Persuasive Essay On Minimum Wage

Before people push a minimum wage increase, they need to be totally aware of all of the positive and negative results and consequences that might occur as a result. The issue concerning what to do about the minimum wage has served as an ongoing controversy amongst several people. The federal minimum wage should not be raised for several reasons including the harmful effect on small businesses, the increase of poverty, and the augmentation of competition for jobs.

Although America is known as the richest country in the world, 43 million of its citizens are in poverty. Unfortunately, some of them work full time, yet are still in poverty due to the low minimum wage (“Should We Raise”). In 1928, the first federal minimum wage of 25 cents per hour was set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to prevent workers from being underpaid. Since 2009, the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 (Smith). The age old debate of whether or not to raise it is still going on in the US. The federal minimum wage should be increased to keep up with inflation, help support the poor, and stimulate the economy.

For many years, there has been an ongoing and strong debate in the United States on whether or not minimum wage should be raised from $7.25 an hour to over $10.00 an hour. Minimum wage is the lowest amount a company or employer can pay their employees. Many argue that the benefits of raising minimum wage surpass the negatives, yet many also disagree. But as a whole, the benefits of a higher minimum wage clearly outweigh the costs that come with it. Minimum wage should be raised because it would increase economic activity, reduce poverty levels, and allow for less government spending.

I decided to write about how I felt regarding the federal government's involvement in controlling the minimum wage and that I felt they are disconnected in their understanding of the impacts on communities when they raise the minimum wage. I work for a manufacturing company in the U.S. and I understand wholeheartedly what the impact of salary increases due to our bottom line. In very competitive markets the difference between success and failure can be separated by the difference of only a few dollars per part, and while in other countries, their manufacturing bottom line is subsidized by their governments we are forced to generate profits the old-fashioned way through supply and demand. This is why I decided to take a stance in my persuasive essay and challenge the status quo of the Department of Labor and Wages. No longer should the federal government dictate a national minimum wage but should allow each state to establish their own minimum wage based on the economic condition of their counties and their state, as a whole.

Minimum wage is at a drastically low number. It has been 9 years since the last raise in 2009. The minimum wage is way to low for people to live off of. Minimum wage is essential for businesses to have a starting pay that is enough for people to be able to provide for themselves and their family. America needs to make a stand to raise the wage. The minimum wage needs to be raised in order for people to provide for themselves, for the US to keep up with other world leaders, and in doing so it will only better the economy.

Minimum wage is a problem, but most don’t want to raise it. Raising minimum wage will be a big problem now and including the future. Raising minimum wage is a problem depending on a social hierarchy. For many years the U.S had had many protesters and this is a problem according to state officials. Family's around the world are surviving on as little as 4.25 an hour in this case people have to survive off of food stamps and family members. Job owners can choose to higher the pay due to a raise in the company or a downgrade will determine whether they will make below minimum wage. Minimum wage should be increased from 7.25 to 9.00 an hour because of the over qualified, educated, and experienced Americans who are now relying on minimum wage jobs as a result of the struggling economy. Also, increasing minimum wage could help stimulate the economy. But, in order to get the economy back on track the spending power must be in the hands of the Americans who in fact, spend. With today's tough job market most job seekers are willing to acquire positions they are considered over qualified for, even if it means taking a pay cuts. Therefore, an increase in minimum wage will ensure that low wage over qualified workers have the means for vital necessities like housing, food, transportation and health care. Last year more than 200,000 Americans with college degrees were working minimum wage jobs due to our struggling economy. Furthermore, an increase in minimum wage would help stimulate the economy by

A living wage is a thing of the past when it comes to our federal minimum wage. Nowadays, people tend to be living to work instead of working to live. Our minimum wage standards are simply not enough to keep up with our inflating cost of living. With every passing year our rent, utilities, insurance requirements and food all increase in price, yet the minimum wage has only increased minimally. The federal minimum wage should be increased to help boost our economy and improve the life of all Americans. There are many critics who would disagree, however. They need to be shown how important a role the common worker plays in the community and how hard it is to survive alone yet with a family on our federal minimum wage standards.

Minimum wage is the amount of money that the government says is the least amount that a business can pay to an individual. The debate on raising minimum wage has been ongoing for a long time. In my opinion minimum wage should not be raised. If minimum wage was raised then there would be higher unemployment because businesses wouldn't be able to afford hiring someone. Raising the minimum wage would mean that the businesses will pay higher than equilibrium price and this means that there would be a surplus. Whereas if the price was below equilibrium price than it would cause a shortage. A business would have to increase the price of their products or services. This would be known as inflation. This would lead the unemployment rates to go up because

Imagine standing over a scorching grill for hours, taking care of the elderly, both lifting and transporting heavy loads, basically doing back breaking work; only to be making less than $8 and hour. That is the reality for millions of people in the work force who are earning minimum wage. Whether or not minimum wage should be raised has been a question many people have been discussing for years and has become quite controversial. Those opposed to increased minimum wages would argue that a minimum wage salary is already sufficient enough, or in some cases even “too high”. In spite of the opposing sides, it is almost certain that a rise in minimum wage will either positively or negatively affect several aspects of the country. For one, an increase in minimum wage could result in an economic shift. Furthermore, the current poverty level within the country, with the help of a higher minimum wage, would either decrease or as a result. Thirdly, a change in poverty levels caused by a higher minimum wage would ultimately change the amount of government spending and those who receive it. Minimum wage being raised would definitely be impactful not only the people receiving those minimum waged salaries, but also the economy, their families, and even the government funding.

An increasing minimum wage in the workplace have both an economic gain for the company, and will produce a productive and dedicated worker. Not only will a company have dedicated skilled workers if they raise the minimum wage, but

The US minimum wage should not be raised to $18.00 an hour for adults by 2020. Raising our minimum wage is just as good as destroying our economy and all the work our government has done to lower unemployment rates. Jamie Richardson, MBA, VP of the fast-food chain White Castle, stated that the company would be forced to close almost half of its restaurants and let go thousands of workers if the federal minimum wage was raised to $15. Peter D. Schiff, an investment broker and investor, stated in his most recent book, The Real Crash, that “minimum wage eliminates from the job market any job that an employer thinks is worth less than minimum wage.” Schiff also mentions that “if the minimum wage prevents them from getting those jobs, they

Minimum wage was out in place to keep companies from being taken advantage of. However, that was in 1938. Now minimum wage is about more than companies taking advantage of them, but for certain workers to be able to support themselves. Whether it's a high school student working towards their college fund or a young adult trying to support themselves out of college, they need to be able to pay. Minimum wage should be raised because people need to be able to afford things that business owners could think of as basic.

¨Anita lives in Phoenix and has a degree in economics. She has four children, two of whom have special needs. She is regularly forced to choose between working enough hours to put food on the table and taking her kids to a long list of doctor’s appointments. Anita had to take her son with down syndrome to 11 doctors appointments in the past week. She receives state assistance and says, “you can’t judge people who are working, but still need to get help. I’m not a lazy person, trust me. A raise in the minimum wage is just about fairness, and about giving people a fighting chance to achieve the American Dream.” (¨Brave People Tell Department of Labor their Struggles Living on Minimum Wage¨).¨ This is just one example of the life of one single minimum wage worker. With minimum wage only being $7.50 an hour, or an average of $15,080 a year, wages are not enough to supply for the needs of a whole family. (¨The Minimum Wage Used To Be Enough To Keep Workers Out Of Poverty—It’s Not Anymore¨). Raising the minimum wage would be very beneficial for the economy and allow for people to spend fewer hours working and spending more hours with their loved ones.

As of 2017 the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour (“Federal”). Based on the region of the country, $7.25 may be enough, but for some regions this is not a fair hourly wage. It is impossible for the federal government to make a fair minimum wage. On top of that, a national increase would eliminate many jobs for American people. Also, a national increase would cause employers to invest in machinery to complete the labor rather than humans. States should be in charge of setting their own minimum wage.

A living wage, or a true minimum wage, is a wage that has the ability to maintain a normal standard of living. A true minimum wage also enables people to live comfortable lives. If this is true, then the minimum wage in place now is not a living nor true minimum wage and it needs to be increased to meet these criteria.