Legislation to further engage workers will help business bottom lines

By David Brodwin
U.S. News & World Report, June 22, 2015

The world of corporations divides in two when it comes to mobilizing and motivating employees. Some, for example Starbucks and Southwest Airlines, take the high road. They pay above average wages, provide above average training and take steps to engage their workers and keep them happy. 

Other companies take the low road, cutting wages and benefits as far as possible, then pushing payroll costs even lower with exploitive on-call scheduling. ...

New research recently...

By Collin Reischman
Missouri Times, June 18, 2015

Saint Louis, Mo. — Mayor Francis Slay has kicked off a discussion about the minimum wage and, in doing so, is fighting with state lawmakers in an effort to move the City of Saint Louis toward a higher minimum wage. It may be a debate before the city’s Board of Alderman, but with state lawmakers sending a bill — HB 722 — to the governor just weeks ago that explicitly prohibits any city from raising the minimum wage past the state rate, the battle lines are clearly drawn...

Editorial
St. Louis Post Dispatch, June 12, 2015

In the abstract, Mayor Francis Slay’s proposal to raise the minimum wage in the city of St. Louis over five years to $15 an hour is a splendid idea. Regrettably, in practice it might well make a dicey job market worse, undermining the city’s steps toward economic revival. Mr. Slay’s proposal, as set forth in Board Bill 83, will get its first hearing Tuesday in the aldermanic Ways and Means Committee. Though it has the support of at least eight of the 28 aldermen and aldermanic President...

By Don Lee
Los Angeles Times, June 1, 2015

FOR THE RECORD: 9:17 a.m., June 2: An earlier photo caption with this story identified hardware store owner Gina Schaefer as an advocate of a higher minimum wage. While she supports raising the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2020, she has taken no position on a $15-an-hour minimum wage.

Gina Schaefer prides herself in taking care of workers. The owner of 10 Ace Hardware stores in the Washington, D.C., area pays her 215 employees at least $10.50 an hour. That's a buck more...

By Hanah Cho
Nerd Wallet, May 28, 2015

Across the country, 29 states and the District of Columbia have a higher minimum wage than federal law requires. Now wage increases are being pushed in large cities as well. ...

NerdWallet asked some small-business owners how a higher minimum wage would affect their operations. ...

Gina Schaefer, co-owner of 10 Ace Hardware stores in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, also pays her employees above the minimum wage because it contributes to better customer service. The business also budgets for pay increases, she says.

Maryland...

By Holly Fletcher
The Tennessean, May 26, 2015

Ascension Health, which owns Saint Thomas Health, is increasing its system-wide minimum wage to $11 an hour in July, boosting wages for several hundred Tennesseans. The July 5 increase will raise hourly wages for about 10,500 people across the country, including 521 who work for Saint Thomas Health in Tennessee. Previously, the minimum wage varied at Ascension's properties, but with the change, it will be the same across the system. The federal minimum wage, which is applicable in Tennessee, is $7.25 an hour.

Tennessee led the nation...

Etats-Unis: La décision de la cité américaine, qui porte son SMIC à 15 dollars par heure, fait couler l’encre outre-Atlantique

Par Jean-Cosme Delaloy
Tribune de Genève, May 25, 2015

L’avenir s’est éclairci pour Mary la semaine dernière. La ville de Los Angeles a annoncé qu’elle augmenterait d’ici à 2020 à quinze dollars par heure le salaire minimum pour les travailleurs comme Mary, ce qui correspond à une augmentation progressive de six dollars par heure sur cinq ans. ...

A la fin du mois dernier, la Sénatrice démocrate Patty Murray a néanmoins introduit un nouveau projet de...

By Kate Rogers
CNBC, May 20, 2015

As Los Angeles moves to become the largest city to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour from $9 an hour over the next five years, a key question is which other large cities might follow suit and hike pay. Los Angeles joins other cities including Seattle, San Francisco and Chicago that have moved independently to raise wages beyond the current, federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

The shift in Los Angeles will now put pressure on other big cities including New York and Washington, D.C...

CNBC, May 20, 2015

CNBC's Kate Rogers reports Los Angeles will raise minimum wages to $15 per hour.

WATCH VIDEO

Op-Ed By Amy Edelman, Owner, Night Kitchen Bakery

As a business owner in Philadelphia, I know we need to raise the minimum wage, and we need to act now. It's good for my business, customers, and our economy.

My perspective is grounded in 15 successful years as a small-business owner. ...

By Melissa Pandika, OZY
USA Today, May 18, 2015

... The restaurant industry may finally be 86-ing low wages and long, grueling shifts. Businesses have begun replacing the hot-blooded chef screaming from an office to a mentor working on the line, offering above-minimum-wage pay and even an ownership stake. More dishwashers and line cooks participate in financial-planning meetings. And some places have even abolished tips — to guarantee a livable base wage.

At Zingerman's, everyone — from the CFO to dishwashers — participates in a weekly "financial huddle."

As foodie culture grows, diners' definition of...

Univision 23 (Miami - Ft. Lauderdale), May 14, 2015

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez visits Pi Pizzeria in Miami. Owner Chris Sommers increased the minimum wage for his employees and supports a federal raise to $12 by 2020.

See Story

By Kate Rogers
CNBC, May 13, 2015

Workplace benefits at Silicon Valley's biggest names including Google and Apple are the stuff of legend. Now tech powerhouse Facebook is entering the minimum wage fight, implementing new standards on benefits for its contractors and vendors. Vendors or contractors in the U.S.who do a "substantial amount of work" with the social media company will be required to pay their workers at least $15 an hour. Other requirements include offering at least 15 paid days off for vacation, sick pay and holidays. Additionally, individuals who do not currently receive...

By Ian P. Murphy
Retail Dive, May 13, 2015

Controversy over raising the minimum wage has been brewing anew for a couple of years. ... Multiple polls say that 70% to 80% of Americans support an increase to the minimum wage. And three out of five (61%) small-business owners with employees support the proposed Fair Minimum Wage Act, which would raise the national minimum from $7.25 to $10.10 in three phases, says a survey from the American Sustainable Business Council and Business for a Fair Minimum Wage.

The pressure—particularly the “Fight for $15” push for...

By Paul Smith
WPMT Fox43 Central Pennsylvania, May 5, 2015

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HARRISBURG, Pa. – Low-wage workers and some business owners urged state lawmakers Monday to increase the state’s minimum wage. ...

“Let’s not forget that workers are also customers,” Simon Arias, owner of Simon Arias Insurance Agencies, said. “More money in the pockets of over 1 million workers will translate into more sales at businesses across the state, which includes mine.”

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