preview

The True Effects Of A Living Wage

Better Essays

MANT 250

An Essay Discussing the True Effects of a Living Wage

Dylan Gallagher
8136645

Word Count: 1906

Introduction

It has been 20 years since the first living wage was introduced in Baltimore, Maryland. Long has it been argued that profitable organizations should have to pay a living wage to its employees. A wage sufficient enough to allow the employee to have a high enough standard of living to adequately take care of their family. The gap between social statuses is increasing even more, and having a living wage in place will help to reduce this gap in society, enabling those at the lower end of the economic spectrum to enjoy more luxuries that they would not usually have access to. Some key discussion points that need to be addressed are; possible job losses, reduction of poverty level, the effect on crime, health care effects, reducing urban poverty, and the varying costs of living that occur depending in different geographic locations. In this essay I will be debating the thesis of “profitable organizations should be required to pay all their employees a living wage.”

What is a Living Wage?

According to the Collins English Dictionary a living wage is “a wage adequate to permit a wage earner to live and support a family in reasonable comfort”. The Treasury Report released by the New Zealand government states this wage to be $18.40 an hour. By their calculations this wage is what is required by a family of two adults and two children. The living

Get Access