Living Wage by AC, JF, TS: Difference between revisions

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*An estimated $40-$60 million a year would be spent by firms on costs of raised wages.
*An estimated $40-$60 million a year would be spent by firms on costs of raised wages.
**There are 3 types of firms that all experience different costs from living wage ordinances...
**There are 3 types of firms that all experience different costs from living wage ordinances...
###"Low-impact" firms
:#"Low-impact" firms

Revision as of 21:24, 28 November 2006

What Is The Living Wage?

The living wage is the minimum hourly wage necessary for a person to achieve some specific standard of living. The living wage comes from the basic premise that anyone in this country who works for a living should not have to raise a family in poverty. Unions, community groups and religious groups are all huge advocators of the new living wage movement.


Statistics

  • In 1997, there were 3.7 million families living in poverty.
    • 65% of these families had 1 or more members who maintained a job.
      • 22% of the families living in poverty in the United States have at least 1 member with a full time job.
  • In 1997, with the minimum wage at $5.15/hour (which it still is today) the real buying power of the wage a full-time worker would earn in a year was $10,300.
    • This wage is below the poverty threshold considered to be $11,235/year for a family of 2: Thus, a person working full-time at minimum wage is earning an annual amount that technically puts them below the poverty line.

Costs

Description
  • An estimated $40-$60 million a year would be spent by firms on costs of raised wages.
    • There are 3 types of firms that all experience different costs from living wage ordinances...
  1. "Low-impact" firms