"LETTER FROM THE EDITOR"
I was a little disappointed to read some of the comments on our story about minimum wage increasing again June 1.
Minimum wage in B.C. rose to $15.65 from $15.20, making it the highest minimum wage in any province in the country. This comes amid high inflation and reduced buying power for everyone.
The overwhelming response to the story was simple concern over their own money, worried that of course, raising minimum wage is going to add to inflation. Businesses are concerned that their costs are rising.
All those statements may be true, but they quickly dismiss a couple of points. First, inflation impacts minimum wage workers just as much — more, in fact — than everyone else. If you’re looking for a cost of living increase, why wouldn’t they?
Photo credit to Unsplash
But perhaps most importantly, rising labour costs is something businesses are just going to have to get used to. Everyone is looking for workers and labourers are exerting their power, finally. They are going to find and choose the jobs where they can make the most money, just like everyone else. Minimum wage just isn’t going to cut it. And if those workers can’t afford to live here, they’re not going to be available at all.
We’ve heard of numerous restaurants shutting down this year because they can’t find staff at all. I’ll bet $15.60 that if they raised their pay and treated their employees with respect, they wouldn’t have this issue.
Where do you stand on this? Send me an email at mjones@infonews.ca and let me know.
Mj
Marshall Jones, managing editor
Infotel.ca
June 3, 2022
I tip thirty percent, often forty to offset the low wage servers are paid, many of whom are university students attempting to minimize their educational debt.
A few years ago, I was hiring for a Cariboo restaurant and discovered limited movement in the pool of potential employees because the successful competitors were paying far more than I was authorized to offer.
Staff turnover in these lucrative establishments was minimal not entirely due to the above average remuneration but because of the kindness of the owner.
If my dining out budget is so low that a few additional dollars to compensate for the restaurant owner passing on the wage increase through higher prices, I need to rethink my entertainment budget.
Thanks for the thought-provoking editorial.
PS, if a diner can't be civil to restaurant staff, stay home and avoid the embarrassment of being 86'd.