Community Chat

[terrier3]

Just something to ponder - the base wage for people in this industry hasn't risen in 22 years.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires payment of at least the federal minimum wage to covered, nonexempt employees. An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.

[Kachina624]

Albuquerque has a new minimum wage law going in effect tomorrow that is just under $8.00/ hr and covers restaurant workers. Santa Fe already has one which is even higher. It's really going to hurt small businesses. I think a high minimum wage destroys a worker's incentive and rewards the unskilled/uneducated.

[tansy]

On 1/1/2014 kachina624 said: Albuquerque has a new minimum wage law going in effect tomorrow that is just under $8.00/ hr and covers restaurant workers. Santa Fe already has one which is even higher. It's really going to hurt small businesses. I think a high minimum wage destroys a worker's incentive and rewards the unskilled/uneducated.

Washington's been going strong with a min wage of $9.17 an hour. One city just went to $15. I don't see how a lower wage would provide an incentive to work harder. Good for New Mexico.

[Shorty2U]

I know -my daughter is a server. Its ridiculous what the hourly rate is. Thankfully she makes a lot because she works in an upscale place and has regular customers who are business people. She makes 200 and up a day. Over the holidays she made up to 400 a day (on her double shift). Also her regulars gave her cards with cash. But people who work at like diners don't get much because the price of the food is less, thus the tip is less. Anyway we always tip 20 to 25%. And if we go to a diner and breakfast is a total of 10 bucks (or less) we never give less than 5.

[Marienkaefer2]

On 1/1/2014 kachina624 said: Albuquerque has a new minimum wage law going in effect tomorrow that is just under $8.00/ hr and covers restaurant workers. Santa Fe already has one which is even higher. It's really going to hurt small businesses. I think a high minimum wage destroys a worker's incentive and rewards the unskilled/uneducated.

I think a higher minimum wage helps students pay for more of their education expenses (as opposed to getting loans), helps people needing second incomes , helps people who can't find a job in another industry or field pay more of their expenses rather than relying more on public assistance.

It can't work all ways. People can't say, cut unemployment benefits,and take a job anywhere...Oh and by the way, the minimum wage is not going to pay you enough to survive, but oh well.

It's not going to hurt small businesses.

What hurts small businesses is people not having any money to spend. Either because they're unemployed or not able to make ends meet in the job they do have.