• $15 minimum wage starts in Seattle
    54 replies, posted
[quote]SEATTLE -- A minimum wage of $15 an hour has started in Seattle for the city's largest employers. A Ivar's, the wage was already been in effect for nearly two years. It's been the standard for the guy making salads to the bartender to the people bussing tables. When the city started talking about raising the wage, the longtime seafood restaurant took notice, said Bob Donegan, Ivar's president. "We've been there since April 1, 2015, the day the law into effect, and it has had very little impact on us." On Jan. 1, Ivar's got company. On that day, the $15 wage became mandatory for every business with more than 501 employees. From now until 2021 the wage increase will be phased in "Seattle is well ahead of most cities in the nation, but what we started here by launching the $15 dollars now grassroots campaign is now nationwide," said Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant. Dylan Orr, who directs the city's Office of Labor and Standards, said his office has fielded plenty of questions in the last couple of days from employers and employees. "It's incredibly important that workers earn a living wage and that we reduce income disparities that exist," Orr said.[/quote] [url]http://komonews.com/news/local/15-minimum-wage-starts-in-seattle[/url]
Hopefully it becomes more common throughout. I see too many of my friends unable to afford anything other then just the rent these days, they have to keep bumming family for supplies.
I can't imagine this being anything good, unless the cost of living is that high in Seattle. Higher minimum wage means higher costs in other areas.
[QUOTE=Nookyava;51621105]I can't imagine this being anything good, unless the cost of living is that high in Seattle. Higher minimum wage means higher costs in other areas.[/QUOTE] I disagree. These companies that hire 500+ can usually afford to not pass down the cost to the consumer. If they do pass the cost down to the consumer, small business will become more enticing to customers.
-snip, didn't read article well enough-
[QUOTE=Nookyava;51621105]I can't imagine this being anything good, [B]unless the cost of living is that high in Seattle.[/B] Higher minimum wage means higher costs in other areas.[/QUOTE] It is one of the highest in the nation and also one of the fastest rising
[QUOTE=MadPro119;51621108]I disagree. These companies that hire 500+ can usually afford to not pass down the cost to the consumer. If they do pass the cost down to the consumer, small business will become more enticing to customers.[/QUOTE] In this day and age most small businesses are losing against the Internet and bigger businesses. While this may help those still around, they are few in number. Many bigger companies are not afraid to slap the costs to the consumer. [editline]4th January 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=piddlezmcfuz;51621117]It is one of the highest in the nation and also one of the fastest rising[/QUOTE] That's something I didn't know, so if the cost of living is really that bad, then I could see this being good in that area.
[QUOTE=Nookyava;51621105]I can't imagine this being anything good, unless the cost of living is that high in Seattle[/QUOTE] It's pretty high already. I have to work full time as a contractor and have a part time job in retail. But this $15 minimum wage isn't going to everywhere, some areas are going up to $11 iirc.
[QUOTE=MadPro119;51621108]I disagree. These companies that hire 500+ can usually afford to not pass down the cost to the consumer. If they do pass the cost down to the consumer, small business will become more enticing to customers.[/QUOTE] Your forgetting small business has very small profit margins, Small business will need to put there prices up because guess who supplies them with goods... Big business. the truth about small business is everyone in the end fucks you, Customers, Suppliers and the tax office wants to rape you.
[QUOTE=Makol;51621128]It's pretty high already. I have to work full time as a contractor and have a part time job in retail. But this $15 minimum wage isn't going to everywhere, some areas are going up to $11 iirc.[/QUOTE] Should probably clarify what I meant - other areas as in delivery, purchasing price, etc. The companies aren't going to just sit and take the hit.
I make $18 and I only get by with a roommate who makes just as much, and I live in Vancouver to the south. I know Seattle is waaaay worse.
How is Seattle? I've been looking for a decently populated city in the US
[QUOTE=Ricenchicken;51621469]How is Seattle? I've been looking for a decently populated city in the US[/QUOTE] Expensive, cold, and wet. The clubs and bars are pretty cool tho.
[QUOTE=Ricenchicken;51621469]How is Seattle? I've been looking for a decently populated city in the US[/QUOTE] Very expensive to live in and the traffic downtown is absolutely bonkers at some points, even for a major metropolitan area. It's like a mini Vancouver in that regard. Culturally, though, it's a pretty damn cool city. There's a lot of little enclaves throughout the city, and it's also a big city of the arts, with over 2000+ cultural/recreational centers.
[video=youtube;sPJ8OjMPuMU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPJ8OjMPuMU[/video]
I'm okay with this. Economic pressures might force Vancouver to do the same.
I used to walk out the door with tips that averaged $20/hr when I used to bus tables. If they're receiving tips on top of the $15/hr they're doing very well
[QUOTE=Ricenchicken;51621469]How is Seattle? I've been looking for a decently populated city in the US[/QUOTE] Seattle and some of the surrounding areas are pretty cool, Washington is a beautiful state with a lot of variety. Western Washington in general has a pretty mild climate, one thing you will probably notice though is that there is not a lot of sun. Honestly I would say most days are overcast with it only being clear and sunny during the hotter parts of summer or sometimes during winter if its really cold which it usually isnt, and then you get a couple sunny days every now and then. Then you have mountains bisecting the state and semi-arid plains to the east, its cool to have so many climates this close to eachother. I have lived near Seattle pretty much my entire life and I dont think I want to leave Washington State anytime soon.
[QUOTE=mwesten1;51622035][video=youtube;sPJ8OjMPuMU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPJ8OjMPuMU[/video][/QUOTE]ben shapiro thug life are 4 words that make no sense together, also that video basically says nothing in regards to the thread anyway, this is good. people should always be paid a wage they can actually live on.
[QUOTE=MadPro119;51621108]I disagree. These companies that hire 500+ can usually afford to not pass down the cost to the consumer. If they do pass the cost down to the consumer, small business will become more enticing to customers.[/QUOTE] They can, but they won't. They don't want to. They want to keep their profits as high as they can. You can have big, big companies have such tight restrictions on their employees when it comes to wages and hours. I don't think they consumers are going to suffer, since some companies focus a bit too much on them. Instead, their employees will suffer, as companies will likely cut staff and hours to maintain preferable profits. I'm no economist, but I'm pessimistic from my experiences as an employee about all of this.
Just because minimum wage goes up, doesn't necessarily mean paychecks will go up very much. Last time minimum wage went up in LA, all part timers at my store went from having a maximum of 28 hours a week to a maximum of 25 hours a week and we couldn't hire another employee when someone quit. If company has to pay more in wages, they won't often cut jobs, they'll just cut hours or raise the cost of their products. Vons around me seems to have less people at a time running cashiers and prices for almost everything has gone up in some cases over a dollar in the last two years. I just don't see raising minimum wage being that beneficial when my hours are cut and things cost more as a result. Making $15/an hour isn't enough to survive in places like Seattle and LA when you only get 25 hours, unless you get a second job which then you won't receive overtime or full-time benefits when working over 40 hours a week.
[QUOTE=benzi2k7;51622143] anyway, this is good. people should always be paid a wage they can actually live on.[/QUOTE] Indeed, but it wont happen. Companies are too greedy, and fifteen isnt even enough. If you live inside downtown America you need about $25 to have a living wage, due to cost of living there. Out where I am its a bit cheaper, that same wage would cover my entire family of four reasonably well.
[QUOTE=Nookyava;51621105]I can't imagine this being anything good, unless the cost of living is that high in Seattle. Higher minimum wage means higher costs in other areas.[/QUOTE] seattle is extremely expensive to live because of the amazing combination of amazon, tech and chinese buying realestate. [editline]4th January 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=TestECull;51622494]Indeed, but it wont happen. Companies are too greedy, and fifteen isnt even enough. If you live inside downtown America you need about $25 to have a living wage, due to cost of living there. Out where I am its a bit cheaper, that same wage would cover my entire family of four reasonably well.[/QUOTE] eh i live in a pretty low cost area and 15$/h would barely cover it, though thats assuming thats 15/hour and 40 hour weeks which most part time jobs will avoid doing because of other reasons
[QUOTE=Sableye;51622513]seattle is extremely expensive to live because of the amazing combination of amazon, tech and chinese buying realestate.[/QUOTE] A couple months ago there was a bus in my neighborhood with people from China looking at homes for sale to buy before heading back over seas. I heard about this kind of thing when I lived in California and it was bizarre to finally see it in person. It was a small bus with about 15 to 20 people.
[QUOTE=mwesten1;51622035][video=youtube;sPJ8OjMPuMU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPJ8OjMPuMU[/video][/QUOTE] wow, being the token ethnic liberal talking to a conservative crowd sure looks fun and full of good conversation instead of shitty communism zingers also whoops rated
So basically companies should learn to function at exactly 500 employees. I can see them hiring a lot less with this in effect.
[QUOTE=Makol;51622519]A couple months ago there was a bus in my neighborhood with people from China looking at homes for sale to buy before heading back over seas. I heard about this kind of thing when I lived in California and it was bizarre to finally see it in person. It was a small bus with about 15 to 20 people.[/QUOTE] yep, used to deliver high end furniture to rich customers. 90% were chinese homeowners who each managed literally almost a dozen properties in the seattle area. the median house value has skyrocketed as a result
I picked a good month to move up here.
[QUOTE=Oizen;51622908]So basically companies should learn to function at exactly 500 employees. I can see them hiring a lot less with this in effect.[/QUOTE] i find it hard to believe many companies employing over 500 people in seattle are doing so at minimum wage
[QUOTE=Sableye;51623274]i find it hard to believe many companies employing over 500 people in seattle are doing so at minimum wage[/QUOTE] I could see it happening in the industrial areas. Non-unionized manufacturing jobs typically pay incredibly low.
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