Do you think that minimum wage is an insult salary?

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Sorry, but this isn't really how it works. I'm a web programmer who currently works part time in retail for minimum wage while I intern, I also have retail management experience, I took this job because it's either that or no money in this horrible job market. I didn't suddenly forget all my skills just because I had to take a minimum wage job. There are people where I work who used to do things such as running their own business or nursing, they are either working for minimum wage due to unforeseen circumstances, or simply because it suits them. There are people who I work with who are far more capable than a lot of the managers, but they do not get promoted due to bureaucracy or simply because there are no positions available.

It would be nice if everyone could have a job and wage that appropriately reflected their skills and ability, but unfortunately that is not how the real world works. To suggest that someone earning minimum wage has no skills is ridiculously small minded.

Notice in my original reply I posted 'desirable' skills. Having a skill that employers are not in need of is the same being unskilled.

Reply 21

joker12345

Original post by tinywings

I have to disagree. 'Skills' is very subjective - if you're working in a minimum wage job you didn't have the skills to get a better one. If you're in an average job, you didn't have the skills to get the top one. Of course, sometimes there's a little luck involved, but it's largely about the skills you have, be that expertise in the area or communication and teamworking skills.

Reply 22

alastair999100

The existence of a minumum wage is actually one of the causes of unemployment, the price of employment is above the market equilibrium where supply of labour = demand for labour. So there is an excess supply of labour.

So arguably the minimum wage is too low, but I agree that looking at the cost of living would say otherwise

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 23

Juichiro

Original post by Silver Lining

Minimum wage is painful.
My sister started out as a temp in the perfume shop, and she has been working there for three years and got paid £5.96 per hour and when she was on holiday, she worked full time but only managed to get like £200- £250 a week ! and she just got promoted in october and her wage is now £6.59.

But, I am a temp right now and I get paid £7 an hour and manage to get like £300 pound a week upto £350.. and I have only been at work for a month!

and buying clothes, food etc is getting harder because it is getting more expensive! so I cut down on luxuries, but then again, at least we have something. kids in Somalia and Africa are not that fortunate

For now.
Food and other 1st need things are increasing faster than the average salary.

Reply 24

username306617

Original post by internetguru

If you get paid minimum wage it is because you have no desirable skills so no it isn't an insult it is realistic.

Are you saying that students that work part time for minimum wage have no desirable skills?

Most retail/fast food jobs that are suitable for students (flexible/shift work/close to student accommodation) are minimum wage.

Reply 25

Silver Lining

Original post by Juichiro

For now.
Food and other 1st need things are increasing faster than the average salary.

hmm, agreed

Reply 26

ArcadiaHouse

Original post by Silver Lining

Somalia is in Africa, genius.

Can't stand sanctimonious prats.

Reply 27

Silver Lining

Original post by ArcadiaHouse

Somalia is in Africa, genius.

Can't stand sanctimonious prats.

someone clearly does not know the parts of 'Africa' I may be talking about it, but its okay. **** happens.

Reply 28

Juichiro

Original post by ArcadiaHouse

Somalia is in Africa, genius.

Can't stand sanctimonious prats.

Really?

Spoiler

Reply 29

danny111

Original post by Noble.

I think it's a bit pathetic when you have companies who pay EXACTLY £6.19 an hour, and not just round it up to £6.20, all to save themselves 40p a week.

I wanted to reply to the thread so I chose your post because it is somewhat relevant.

I don't think it's insulting. In the free market the sad fact is that you would find some people that would be willing to work for less. So a minimum wage is an improvement on that. So given that in a free market firms would pay even less, I don't see how it is so bad that they pay exactly £6.19. In fact £6.20 would be an insult imo since it says to me "oh look at us, giving you 1p extra because we are so nice".

Now I still believe that it is an incredibly low wage and people living on it are poor fellows that deserve respect for bothering to work for it - there are plenty of people who rather sit on their ass all day instead of working for minimum wage, or people who turn to crime. But the problem is that the higher you make the worse economically it becomes. I have talked to one econ profs at my previous uni who is a labour economist and he said that the general consensus is that the current minimum wage is a not bad compromise between economic performance and giving people a "living" wage.

Reply 30

TimmonaPortella

What? Why would it be an insult? You're being given money to do a job.

The fact that other people get paid more is of no relevance. If you want to get paid more, go and get the skills/ make the deals and earn it.

Reply 31

Rakas21

IG put it best in saying that you are paid minimum wage because you have no valuable skills (or those that you do hold can easily be replicated with simple training). As a starting salary in a service position working part time i don't think it's an insult but i would be insulted if i was working full time for more than a year on such a salary and did not receive a raise or promotion, as such i would take my labour elsewhere.

Reply 32

AspiringGenius

Original post by internetguru

If you get paid minimum wage it is because you have no desirable skills so no it isn't an insult it is realistic.

I get paid that low and have skills. it's called a saturday job while im studying.

Reply 33

ColourDog

It kind of feel it is an insult. I've had a part time job at the same place for the past 4 years, so I started when i was 14. The pay was fab for a 14/15/16/17 year old: at £5 an hour it wasn't too shabby!
I then had a text saying I was going to get a pay rise when I hit 18. My 18th passed and I heard nothing. I queried, and she turned around and said the minimum wage is £4.98 so i get paid more than that already, so no pay rise! I was personally hurt as I felt completely unappreciated? I've done a lot for that company :/
I even quit my other part time job where my salary was £6 something (debenhams) so that I could do more for her :/

Reply 34

evantej

Original post by RowingGoose

Min wage for me is fine - just enough to get by and I'm really really grateful to have a job especially in the current economic climate. There isn't enough money to pay everyone in low skill jobs more than minimum wage, it's that simple.

What does rattle me though is the increasing gap between the lowest and the highest paid. And when the highest paid get bonuses, even when targets aren't met.

You say there is not enough money to pay everyone more than minimum wage, but then complain about an increasing pay gap. Clearly there is money available, but it is going to a small group of people at the top rather than being spread more equally between those at the bottom.

Reply 35

internetguru

Original post by AspiringGenius

I get paid that low and have skills. it's called a saturday job while im studying.

That's because it is a saturday job.

Reply 36

Rakas21

Original post by evantej

The amount of money available is irrelevant (this is why socialists are wrong in thinking that capping salaries will mean that the money saved will mean increased salaries for those at the bottom of the organisation). Ultimately a product is sold at a certain price and has a marginal cost, if ten people are more than happy to your job just as proficiently for the same price then you are not getting a pay rise, so either you prove to your employer that you are more productive than prospective employee 'A' and thus are deserving of a pay rise or you take your labour elsewhere.

Reply 37

King Leonidas

Original post by Silver Lining

I just want to give you a big great hug, you're so humble :smile:

Reply 38

SillyEddy

Minimum wage isn't ideal, but it will certainly cover a minimal level of support for the person earning. Of course, you need the hours to make it worthwhile.

£4.98/hour for an 18 year old, over the course of a month of 40 hour shifts comes up to around £800 a month. After tax and NI, that's what... £640 a month?

A semi-reasonable house is about £300 per person per month, plus a bit in bills. That's still a good £200+ a month for extras. I usually spend about £25 a week in food, so after everything is said and done, they'll walk away with £100 a month in spending money.

Of course, that's a lower tier of minimum wage and not the maximum hours per week that could be worked. If you require a car and things like that to get to work, then it'll be a struggle. I sort of approve of the idea of a county based minimum wage system (as some areas are more expensive to live in than others), but I think on the whole it should never go down from what it is.

The fear is that if the minimum wage is increased, there will be fewer jobs than before. Is it better to be paid adequately for everyone, or to not have a job at all?

Reply 39

evantej

Original post by Rakas21

Do you actually know anything about socialism? How a co-operative works? Or how the social ownership of the means of production might positively influence employment opportunities and make your argument about an oversupply of labour completely redundant?

I honestly do not know why you have brought socialism into your argument because it undermines it...