topic Re: Wages in Community Chat

Wages

judgejudith — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 20:47:57 GMT

I've mentioned before that I am a retiree who works part-time as a caregiver for the elderly. I have been blessed to have a very nice federal pension and if I did not have a shopping habit, multiple hobbies to support, and like to travel...I would not need to work part-time in my retirement. With all that being said I am quite aware that there are many not so fortunate. She had complimented me on one of my tops. She went on to say she like Lands End clothing and by the way she only shops at Goodwill.

Was visiting with another caregiver (between shifts) and this gal is very nice 70 year old gal working part-time as a caregiver. For those of you who are not aware, caregivers for the elderly and nannies are exempt for the requirement to be paid the federal minimum wage. I personally find this well, revolting, as you are asking someone to take care of the most important people in your life (your children and your elderly relatives) and we expect them to be so dedicated that they will work for less that $8 an hour. I basically said this to the other gal and she replied she thought $7.50 an hour was a livable wage. Not wanting to start a political argument ...I changed the subject.

But now, I have been thinking about this. How different we all are. I think, my goodness if I were in her shoes, did not own a car (he daughter drops her off at assignments), lived in my child's basement, and did my shopping a Goodwill...I would screaming in my loudest voice that caregivers should be paid at least the minimum wage.

I don't know that there is really a question here, guess that I am just thinking "out loud".

Re: Wages

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 20:51:53 GMT

I guess everyone sets their own standards for what is considered a comfortable existence.

Oops, totally missed that this was meant to spur a discussion of mandatory minimum wage.

Re: Wages

151949 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 20:55:30 GMT

Apparently , the place where you work hires retired people so that way they are able to get away with paying less since these are people who are only working to supplement their retirement income.

I do believe that part time employees are not required by law to be paid the minimum wage, whatever it may be.I personally think a federal minimum wage is ridiculous - what a person needs as a minimum to live in places like NYC or LA or Chicago could easily support you quite comfortably in much of the rest of the country.

Re: Wages

kittymomNC — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:01:05 GMT

If there was no federal minimum wage, what about states whose legislatures would abolish ALL minimum wage laws? The people in those states could be working for $4.00 or $5.00 an hour if they were lucky.

Re: Wages

Say Nay — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:02:49 GMT

Isn't Jan 1st the date when minimum wage becomes mandatory for all home care?

Re: Wages

straykatz — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:03:16 GMT

I think it is appalling that people are expected to work for less than the minimum wage in this country.

Re: Wages

adelle38 — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:12:26 GMT

"...she replied she thought $7.50 an hour was a livable wage."

I guess it's a living wage if you live in your daughter's basement.

Re: Wages

Snik — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:21:51 GMT

I am in Southern California and could not even begin to live on minimum wage... But I suppose like everything in life, it is all relative....

Re: Wages

AngusandBuddhasMom — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:30:43 GMT

Nobody seems to ever mention the tons of people who have worked 10 or 15 years and are only making 20. an hr or less and they are skilled workers. Is it fair to them ? That someone who has no skill should be making 15.00 off the bat? These are usually office workers who are not making big bucks. But fulfill an important job skill and can not ask for raises. And have no voice like those who it seems have no skill and can demand high wages. JMO.

Re: Wages

Snik — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:33:58 GMT

On 11/4/2014 Caravaggio said:
Nobody seems to ever mention the tons of people who have worked 10 or 15 years and are only making 20. an hr or less and they are skilled workers. Is it fair to them ? That someone who has no skill should be making 15.00 off the bat? These are usually office workers who are not making big bucks. But fulfill an important job skill and can not ask for raises. And have no voice like those who it seems have no skill and can demand high wages. JMO.

Who cannot ask for raises? Certainly being an integral part of the team and being skilled, should give you SOME bargaining power? If you are qualified and skilled with good work history, and cannot get a raise, why not try another employer????

Re: Wages

CouponQueen — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:38:16 GMT

I think CNA (Nurse's Aides) should be paid more..if that was the case then you would find much more reliable respectful help..like many careers you find the few that are compassionate towards their clients.

That said..I hate how they push fast food workers to make ten bucks an hour or more..HOLY SMOKES..they CANNOT get any order correct..and they want MORE? How about mandatory orders to be correct before any wage increase?

Ten bucks an hour is too much for some of these kids..yes they are kids..I think occasionally you will find those older folks looking to supplement their SS retirement but other then managers and assistant managers..it is pretty much minimum..although I noticed our local Wendy's had a sign out...$12 an hour for late hour shift..and I was reading on Facebook Mom's site the other day - mom's looking for part-time jobs when hubs gets home..and they said besides waitressing which you can rake in good dough..that our local Walmart is the one that actually pays way above minimum wage..which surprised me.

Re: Wages

AngusandBuddhasMom — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:42:07 GMT

On 11/4/2014 Snik said:
On 11/4/2014 Caravaggio said:
Nobody seems to ever mention the tons of people who have worked 10 or 15 years and are only making 20. an hr or less and they are skilled workers. Is it fair to them ? That someone who has no skill should be making 15.00 off the bat? These are usually office workers who are not making big bucks. But fulfill an important job skill and can not ask for raises. And have no voice like those who it seems have no skill and can demand high wages. JMO.

Who cannot ask for raises? Certainly being an integral part of the team and being skilled, should give you SOME bargaining power? If you are qualified and skilled with good work history, and cannot get a raise, why not try another employer????

Not in a lot of big corporate offices. Raises are handed out once a year (If there is not a freeze) this myth that oh just go in and ask for a raise is just that a myth.

And you made my point. Office workers are told oh just go to another employer. As if the economy has tons of jobs Why not tell hamburger flippers to go and look for another job that actually will require skill instead of a staying at a mim wage job.?

Re: Wages

AngusandBuddhasMom — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:47:38 GMT

I do think Caregivers should be making more then minimum wage that is not right. Considering the amount of money going into nursing homes etc. The people doing all that work deserve more money.

Re: Wages

JobGirl — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:50:28 GMT

On 11/4/2014 Caravaggio said:
Nobody seems to ever mention the tons of people who have worked 10 or 15 years and are only making 20. an hr or less and they are skilled workers. Is it fair to them ? That someone who has no skill should be making 15.00 off the bat? These are usually office workers who are not making big bucks. But fulfill an important job skill and can not ask for raises. And have no voice like those who it seems have no skill and can demand high wages. JMO.

Most minimum wage jobs were not meant to raise a family on-they are meant to be entry level stepping stone jobs-as you move on in life you acquire new skills and be paid accordingly-

Re: Wages

straykatz — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:50:34 GMT

Agree...those of us who are fortunate enough to have jobs paying more than minimum wage are finding ourselves caught in the growing trend of employers who no longer offer decent raises or annual raises...wage freezes are becoming the common....and we are left with the impression to look elsewhere if we don't like it...no longer are we rewarded with pay increases for hard work....yet....in many if not most large corporations the guys sitting at the top are collecting bigger and bigger paychecks and bonuses as the gap between upper and lower management/employees grows larger and larger.

Re: Wages

straykatz — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:58:04 GMT

On 11/4/2014 JobGirl said:
On 11/4/2014 Caravaggio said:
Nobody seems to ever mention the tons of people who have worked 10 or 15 years and are only making 20. an hr or less and they are skilled workers. Is it fair to them ? That someone who has no skill should be making 15.00 off the bat? These are usually office workers who are not making big bucks. But fulfill an important job skill and can not ask for raises. And have no voice like those who it seems have no skill and can demand high wages. JMO.

Most minimum wage jobs were not meant to raise a family on-they are meant to be entry level stepping stone jobs-as you move on in life you acquire new skills and be paid accordingly-

These so called stepping stone jobs are now becoming the norm for many people trying to make ends meet in times where companies are not hiring/promoting or givng rasies....the majority of the low wage paying jobs are dead end jobs with no opportunity to advance with or without an education.

Re: Wages

QueenDanceALot — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:02:41 GMT

On 11/4/2014 JobGirl said:
On 11/4/2014 Caravaggio said:
Nobody seems to ever mention the tons of people who have worked 10 or 15 years and are only making 20. an hr or less and they are skilled workers. Is it fair to them ? That someone who has no skill should be making 15.00 off the bat? These are usually office workers who are not making big bucks. But fulfill an important job skill and can not ask for raises. And have no voice like those who it seems have no skill and can demand high wages. JMO.

Most minimum wage jobs were not meant to raise a family on-they are meant to be entry level stepping stone jobs-as you move on in life you acquire new skills and be paid accordingly-

But this is not how life works these days.

We have to live in the real world.

Re: Wages

QueenDanceALot — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:04:04 GMT

The industry I work in has shrunk (like so many) and the opportunities have dropped accordingly.

When there IS a position open, they want someone with 20 years experience and want to pay them entry level wages.

Re: Wages

QueenDanceALot — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:05:29 GMT

We haven't had a raise OR a cost of living increase in 7 years.

Plus, we had a 20% pay cut last year.

Re: Wages

AngusandBuddhasMom — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:11:08 GMT

Maybe I did not make my point clear. The jobs I spoke of are not entry level they just happen to be in an industry's that do not pay what reflects on the experience and qualifications. These are not entry level jobs. And while they come with benefits they do not come with the salary increases that seem to be what non skilled entry level jobs are most likely going to be the norm. Or if you were a federal employee or Union member. But the cost of the increases to jobs of unskilled workers will be passed onto the public.