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Minimum Wage And The Laws That Govern Wage Rates Within The United States

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In this paper I will introduce the concept of minimum wage and a few of the laws that govern wage rates within the United States. I will also discuss some of the idea of both the support and opposition to minimum wage. I will also introduce some United States companies who have made the decision to raise their own minimum wages, why they made the decision to do so, and the changes and expectations they have as a result. Raising minimum wage for a company is not easy, and what to raise it to is harder, but for many companies, it is a good idea. In this paper, I will explain why.

Introduction
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly amount that employers may legally pay to their employees. This also means it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labor. Minimum wages laws exist in many different cities and countries, but opinions about their advantages and disadvantages vary throughout. Supporters of the minimum wage say it increases the standard of living of workers, reduces poverty, reduces inequality, boosts morale and forces businesses to be more efficient. Opponents of an increase in minimum wage say it increases poverty, increases unemployment and damages businesses.
The United States federal government has, over time, raised the country wide minimum wage to $7.25 per hour. This represents the lowest any state can set their minimum wage level. However, some states have chosen to set their own minimum wage higher, such as the $9.47 that Washington has set as

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