The problem with assuming people will work harder if they get paid more is it doesn't work. The same for the concept that people who were not in the work force now because the pay was too low will now suddenly come flocking out.
People who are motivated to work hard do not do so because of their pay check. They have other goals in mind like Zero. He put himself through college. I have seen many people get a raise, they are happy for about an hour and then drop right back into their old work habits. Generalizing the point, someone who chooses another option such as some form of public aid often uses low wages as an excuse not to work. I have seen way too many people get 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet. I have seen couples have 3-4 jobs between them plus whatever jobs their kids come up with to believe $10 an hour for a job keeps people at home. They are there because they choose to be there.
Dakota works his regular union job, wrangles his bees and does taxes in season. He is a hard working guy. Others not so much. Dakota will always work hard. Others not so much.
Originally Posted by: wpr
I agree that a higher wage may not automatically make everyone want to work or work harder. Studies have shown that pay is not at the top of the list for motivated workers. However, it may make people who do have a good work ethic choose to work in one of these new minimum wage jobs which could increase production.
As far as people being motivated like Zero the 15 bucks an hour won't make a difference to them because it still won't be enough and they will still want to improve their lot in life. As for the people working 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet or the couple's with 3-4 jobs maybe now they can cut back on one of them and spend more time with their kids which may have a great positive impact on society.
I spent the last 15 years of my life running a one man pet shop because I could not afford to hire anyone so almost doubling the minimum wage would not have hurt me but it certainly would have absolutely ruled out the chance of me hiring someone if I would have wanted to.
I see a lot of small businesses being forced to close, move, or cut back on staffing. For this reason I do not agree with the 15 bucks an hour. I was just trying to look at potential benefits, I was not trying to say the potential benefits outweighed the potential drawbacks. One thing I do see is a shift from younger (high school age) or older (wall mart greeter types) more transient workers to more stable long term employees.
Another thing is this, the 15 bucks an hour will not only affect new employees. Lets say you have a couple of employees who have worked for you for 5 or 6 years and they have been steady employees. They have worked themselves up through regular pay raises to 12 bucks an hour. Now the new law kicks in and they have to be paid 15 bucks an hour. Ok, you bite the bullet because they are good employees and you can swing it. Now you hire a couple of new kids and you have to pay him 15 bucks an hour as well. The good employees now have to train the new guys who may not be such good employees but they will be getting the same amount of money. How long do you think the current guys will stand for that? What sort of pay raise schedule do you work out for them after that. Lets say you policy has been to give 35 cents per hour every 6 months. Do you stick with that? Guys that have twice the time on the job will either be making the same amount of money or you will have to have different pay raise schedules for time of service. All of that could factor negatively into employee moral as well.
What I really want to see is all those slackers who have pushed so hard for this and will lose their jobs because they simply are not worth 15 bucks and they are replaced or their businesses have to close or move, start complaining when they can't find work. I wonder how the government will step in and take care of them then?
I don't know all the details but something tells me there will be several loopholes involved and not every person working in every job will automatically make 15 bucks an hour and the businesses that learn to take advantage of those loopholes will benefit the most.