In the anecdote given, the businesses had less than a year to comply. Unrealistic? Well since it happened I don't think so.
The city of Santa Monica has passed a "living wage law" that gave those affected a relatively short implimendation period. L.A. was working on a similar law, which again would only affect singled out businesses. (I don't know what ever happened since I moved out of L.A. County a long time ago)..
In theory I wouldn't argue against a minimum or living wage law (altho I'm personally in favor of the idea of a prevailing wage, but that can be nebulous) however in RL it can be very difficult to impliment FAIRLY. Several points: Most (that I know of) minimum wage jobs are entry level jobs. If I understood all the numbers bounced around thru this post 3% of people working minimum wage support families, now here is where it gets tricky, assuming that the majority aren't people that have lost their jobs and aren't marking time (since unemployment will pay more than you can get on minimum wage if you have been working at a substancial job) I find it difficult to believe that someone who is content with a minimum wage job would start a family...that being said I do know families who have bought homes with 3-4 members all working minimum or slightly more, jobs. (That takes in other factors that could come off xenophobic, and I don't want to side track at the moment). And having run two businesses, I can see how a mandantory pay raise (even only) 30cents an hour can make a big enough difference in the bottom line as to make it not worth it. I could leave the family business right now and generate a larger bottom line than I am right now (with less effort) however if the economy gets better I would be sorry, not to mention I am too close to retiring :D
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Date: 18/3/12 23:10 (UTC)The city of Santa Monica has passed a "living wage law" that gave those affected a relatively short implimendation period.
L.A. was working on a similar law, which again would only affect singled out businesses. (I don't know what ever happened since I moved out of L.A. County a long time ago)..
In theory I wouldn't argue against a minimum or living wage law (altho I'm personally in favor of the idea of a prevailing wage, but that can be nebulous) however in RL it can be very difficult to impliment FAIRLY.
Several points: Most (that I know of) minimum wage jobs are entry level jobs. If I understood all the numbers bounced around thru this post 3% of people working minimum wage support families, now here is where it gets tricky, assuming that the majority aren't people that have lost their jobs and aren't marking time (since unemployment will pay more than you can get on minimum wage if you have been working at a substancial job) I find it difficult to believe that someone who is content with a minimum wage job would start a family...that being said I do know families who have bought homes with 3-4 members all working minimum or slightly more, jobs. (That takes in other factors that could come off xenophobic, and I don't want to side track at the moment). And having run two businesses, I can see how a mandantory pay raise (even only) 30cents an hour can make a big enough difference in the bottom line as to make it not worth it. I could leave the family business right now and generate a larger bottom line than I am right now (with less effort) however if the economy gets better I would be sorry, not to mention I am too close to retiring :D