Businesses Raising Their Minimum Wages - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MTI · #16 07-15-2014, 06:45 PM

It's true that it works until customers find alternatives to lower quality service and supply of goods or there is some new disruptive organization that changes the business model.

Botnst · #17 07-15-2014, 06:59 PM

Yup, it's chaotic and unpredictable. And that's a good thing. I sure don't trust anybody to run it.

aklim · #18 07-15-2014, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

If the means are there to pay a livable wage. Why not?

Walmart type enterprises disturb me with profits as high as they have been but neglect to really consider their employees needs. There is no doubt in my mind that many north American firms could easily afford to pay better.

Once greed sets in there seem no limits. Many highly profitable enterprises are way understaffed as well on purpose.

If an enterprise is in a struggling mode is another circumstance that may hinder livable wages. Too many corporations are well beyond that point yet still pay as little as they can. If there were not minumin wages they would pay even much less in my opinion. To increase their profits of course.

Question. You talk about the obligations the corporation has to the employee. Do you believe the employee has any obligation or is it a one way street? As an employee, if I could have a steady paycheck, do you think I really care one way or the other about the company? IOW, if my contract calls or $10 an hour that we negotiated in good times, do you think many employees would give back money if the company had hard times? If not, aren't both parties out to maximize their profit?

aklim · #19 07-15-2014, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

It's a natural reaction to increasing burdens placed on employers -- cut the bennies, cut the workforce. Next step is move overseas and sell to America.

Isn't it also natural for me, as an employee to be shopping around by interviewing or nosing out for any opportunities that might come along to better myself? Isn't it also natural for me to go to my boss and say "I have an offer of $5000 more. Meet it or I walk."?

Botnst · #20 07-16-2014, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Isn't it also natural for me, as an employee to be shopping around by interviewing or nosing out for any opportunities that might come along to better myself? Isn't it also natural for me to go to my boss and say "I have an offer of $5000 more. Meet it or I walk."?

Sure. That's the nature of having marketable skills, knowledge, and abilities. Especially in an expanding market. Squeeze your employer until he bleeds -- he will do the same to you on the flip side. And that's a good thing.

aklim · #21 07-16-2014, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Sure. That's the nature of having marketable skills, knowledge, and abilities. Especially in an expanding market. Squeeze your employer until he bleeds -- he will do the same to you on the flip side. And that's a good thing.

So I squeeze you, you squeeze me. What right has either party got to complain about the squeezing?

MTI · #22 07-16-2014, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Question. You talk about the obligations the corporation has to the employee. Do you believe the employee has any obligation or is it a one way street? As an employee, if I could have a steady paycheck, do you think I really care one way or the other about the company? IOW, if my contract calls or $10 an hour that we negotiated in good times, do you think many employees would give back money if the company had hard times? If not, aren't both parties out to maximize their profit?

I think you're describing a situation where neither the company or the employee have any concern for the other, which would be a failure in hiring and management. If we ditch the "corporations are people" line for a moment, I think you'll find that most human employers are concerned about their bottom line and employees

Kuan · #23 07-16-2014, 09:04 AM

You better be sure you're in a position to squeeze the company before you actually squeeze them. People don't like to negotiate under a gun. You start holding your job hostage by threatening to leave for more money and you'll find yourself replaced in a hurry.

aklim · #24 07-16-2014, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

I think you're describing a situation where neither the company or the employee have any concern for the other, which would be a failure in hiring and management. If we ditch the "corporations are people" line for a moment, I think you'll find that most human employers are concerned about their bottom line and employees

You can't blame the employee or employer for human nature.

Of course there is some concerns about the employee. As long as it can affect the company, they will. I care about my employees but it is because replacement or inability to work affects me. Beyond that, probably no.

As everyone has so deftly avoided, what can we expect from the employee? Eternal faithfulness?

aklim · #25 07-16-2014, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

You better be sure you're in a position to squeeze the company before you actually squeeze them. People don't like to negotiate under a gun. You start holding your job hostage by threatening to leave for more money and you'll find yourself replaced in a hurry.

As they say, when you pull a gun, you better be ready to shoot.

SwampYankee · #26 07-16-2014, 10:02 AM

When poor financial decisions, kids and a stay-at-home wife (which led to some of those poor decisions) rendered my paycheck insufficient, I delivered newspapers 7/365, mowed lawns and plowed snow in addition to my usual 45-50 hours. Much of that came at the expense of quality time or activities with my kids, especially my oldest two. I just did what I needed to do to make ends meet and didn't think twice about it.

When I suggested some acquaintances who were having difficulty making ends meet do the same, the response was less than positive. Instead they continued to complain about not making enough money.

When did minimum wage jobs become careers? Or perhaps more importantly why? Is our educational system doing such a poor job that some are only qualified to perform the most menial jobs?

My Canadian truck driver dropped out of school in 8th grade to work on his family's farm. He's more than capable of doing the necessary work and showing the responsibility that brings him several times the minimum wage in CT.

Most of my warehouse crew are high school graduates or have their GEDs. They are more than capable of doing the necessary work and showing the responsibility that brings them multiples of the minimum wage in CT.

If we don't pay enough, we have more turnover. Turnover is expensive for us so the key is to minimize it. If we don't start them at a high enough wage, that is higher than minimum wage, they don't come back after the interview. I understand that desperate times call for desperate measures. But it always amazes me that the companies that actually have minimum wage positions never seem to have a problem filling those positions. Sure, there's a lot of turnover and those companies know how to deal with that turnover. That turnover used to be because employees moved up the ladder within or beyond their employer's walls. Raises used to be based on merit rather than surviving another year because there wasn't enough of a reason to fire them.

How did we end up at the point that the only jobs some folks qualify (or maybe settle) for and consider their full time job, are minimum wage positions? There's more to it than just evil employers bleeding their employees dry. I suspect ambition, or lack of it, isn't insignificant.

SwampYankee · #27 07-16-2014, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

If we ditch the "corporations are people" line for a moment, I think you'll find that most human employers are concerned about their bottom line and employees

Agreed. It's usually "and". Especially with small and medium-sized businesses, who employ the majority.

Air&Road · #28 07-16-2014, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

When poor financial decisions, kids and a stay-at-home wife (which led to some of those poor decisions) rendered my paycheck insufficient, I delivered newspapers 7/365, mowed lawns and plowed snow in addition to my usual 45-50 hours. Much of that came at the expense of quality time or activities with my kids, especially my oldest two. I just did what I needed to do to make ends meet and didn't think twice about it.

When I suggested some acquaintances who were having difficulty making ends meet do the same, the response was less than positive. Instead they continued to complain about not making enough money.

When did minimum wage jobs become careers? Or perhaps more importantly why? Is our educational system doing such a poor job that some are only qualified to perform the most menial jobs?

My Canadian truck driver dropped out of school in 8th grade to work on his family's farm. He's more than capable of doing the necessary work and showing the responsibility that brings him several times the minimum wage in CT.

Most of my warehouse crew are high school graduates or have their GEDs. They are more than capable of doing the necessary work and showing the responsibility that brings them multiples of the minimum wage in CT.

If we don't pay enough, we have more turnover. Turnover is expensive for us so the key is to minimize it. If we don't start them at a high enough wage, that is higher than minimum wage, they don't come back after the interview. I understand that desperate times call for desperate measures. But it always amazes me that the companies that actually have minimum wage positions never seem to have a problem filling those positions. Sure, there's a lot of turnover and those companies know how to deal with that turnover. That turnover used to be because employees moved up the ladder within or beyond their employer's walls. Raises used to be based on merit rather than surviving another year because there wasn't enough of a reason to fire them.

How did we end up at the point that the only jobs some folks qualify (or maybe settle) for and consider their full time job, are minimum wage positions? There's more to it than just evil employers bleeding their employees dry. I suspect ambition, or lack of it, isn't insignificant.

My hat is off to you swamp. It is very sad, but very few people will step up and take responsibility for their life like that. You show what you are made of. A top not h guy!

SwampYankee · #29 07-16-2014, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

My hat is off to you swamp. It is very sad, but very few people will step up and take responsibility for their life like that. You show what you are made of. A top not h guy!

It never dawned on me to do things any differently. Well, except the poor decisions part which I knew wasn't smart all along.

I do regret short-changing my oldest two back then, though.

MTI · #30 07-16-2014, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

You can't blame the employee or employer for human nature.

Of course there is some concerns about the employee. As long as it can affect the company, they will. I care about my employees but it is because replacement or inability to work affects me. Beyond that, probably no.

As everyone has so deftly avoided, what can we expect from the employee? Eternal faithfulness?

Again, it depends on both the management and the employee. I would recommend the writings of Harvey McKay to learn more.