The Federal Minimum Wage Rate - 1774 Words

Concerning the wage rate, the United States government has intervened to maintain a lower limit on the hourly wage rate of a worker’s labor by implementing a price floor known as the minimum wage rate. This legal floor on the market price of labor sets a minimum hourly pay rate for workers in the United States. Effective July 24, 2009 the federal minimum wage rate is $7.25; in states that also have minimum wage laws the employee may be subject to both federal and state minimum wage laws, in which case they are entitled to the higher minimum wage rate (U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, 2011). Since the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was created in 1938 the federal minimum wage rate has gradually increased from $0.25 in 1938 to $7.25 present (U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, 2011). Although continuing to increase the minimum wage rate may include potential positive factors, it would hinder the U.S. economy overall. President Barack Obama has recen tly proposed an increase in the minimum wage rate to $10.10. With the increase of minimum wage there are both potential benefits and costs. One of these costs is the risk of employers being forced to lay off workers due to their fixed budgets. In the short run the price of labor is a fixed cost, and when this fixed cost increases dramatically it has a major impact on the controlled budgets of employers. The increase in the cost of labor is also paired with an increased cost in higher taxes for businessShow MoreRelatedRaising The Federal Minimum Wage889 Words   |  4 Pagesraising the federal minimum wage would positively effect the economy. In doing so, I will be discussing how an increase in the federal minimum wage would make a vast improvement on the way many low income families live, and also how raising the federal minimum wage would boost the economy as it desperately needs. In raising the federal minimum wage, one might argue that it would cause a spike in the unemployment rate. The reasoning is that it would force employers to balance the increase in wages thatRead MoreRaising the Minimum Wage, A Speech Outline Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesRaising the minimum wage Introduction I. Attention Getter: Per capita, Idaho is ranked number one in the nation – Number one, when it comes to paying workers as little as possible. II. Topic Orientation: The U.S. Bureau of Labor estimates that 31,000 or 7.7 percent of all Idaho’s workers are paid the current national minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or less. (Maben) A. Idaho has the highest percentage of minimum-wage workers per capita of any state. (Maben) B. The overall povertyRead MoreMiimum Wage and Power to the People1746 Words   |  7 PagesThree – Power to the people The third and final alternative minimum wage is to allow the local people in the community vote on a living wage. This alternative would put all the power in the hands of the people; allowing them to decide what is best for their neighborhoods. If the people are allowed to vote in such matters, they will be permitted to use their voice and at the very least express their concerns with the gaps in minimum wage and cost of living in their community. However, there are drawbacksRead MoreThe Effects of a Minimum Wage Law655 Words   |  3 PagesWhat are the Effects of a Minimum Wage Law? A minimum wage is the lowest amount of money per hour that the government of the country assigns employers to pay their employees. The minimum wage is based on an idea that the employers have a responsibility for their employees to live in a reasonable standard of living. The minimum wage laws have directly effect to most industries because of the potential of decreasing their budget. As a result, the minimum wage is still an issue that people researchRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Debate1637 Words   |  7 PagesThe minimum wage debate brings about a range of reactions from different people. There are those who believe that there shouldn’t even be a minimum wage and that wages should be determined by the markets. On the other hand, we have those who vigorously argue for increasing the wage minimum citing inflation, the poverty line and worker productivity. Regardless, we do have a federal minimum wage rate in the United States at $7.25 per hour, with some states having a higher m inimum wage than the federalRead MoreThe Effect Of Minimum Wage Increase On Childrens Social And Economic Standings, Making It Popular With Women1569 Words   |  7 Pages Arguments for an Increase in the Minimum Wage One of the most obvious and anticipated effects of a minimum wage increase is the income increase especially for families on and below the poverty line. An approximated 16.5 million people stand to gain from added wages, and most families incomes would, in fact, rise above the federal poverty threshold (Congressional Budget Office). With so many families depending on the minimum wage to forge a livelihood, an increase would be a blessing in disguiseRead MorePolitical Involvement os Power of the Public1456 Words   |  6 Pagesthat distress (Kraft and Furlong, 2013). There are currently nineteen states that offer a higher minimum wage than the federal mandate. Thirteen states raised their minimum wage levels on January 1, 2014, increasing the purchasing power of the lowest paid workers in each respective state, some of the increases were under fifteen cents (United States Department of Labor). It is projected that minimum wage increases will drive consumer spending; and that can encourage job growth which will promote theRead MorePros And Cons Of The Minimum Wage1620 Words   |  7 PagesIncreasing the federal minimum wage has been a controversial topic around the United States; many people are in favor of raising the minimum wage, while others heavily oppose the idea. While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, statistics have shown that the minimum wage is closely correlated to public health, and it shows that this topic is a much bigger and broader picture than simply economics. The federal minimum wage has a history that dates all the way back to 1938, and the strong debatesRead MoreDetermining The Cost Per Hour Difference Between A Minimum Wage1183 Words   |  5 Pagesdetermine the cost per hour difference between a minimum wage employee working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks located in Cornwall, Ontario and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The result of this report w ill be used for the establishment of a new distribution centre. All the elements of employee’s salary in the city of Cornwall and Pittsburgh will be covered in this report. The report will make the use of exchange rate for comparing the difference in wages in two countries now and after the completion ofRead MoreShould Minimum Wage Be Raised?1062 Words   |  5 Pagesever pressing question regarding Minimum wage. Not many subjects can ignite a controversy as quickly as that of whether or not minimum wage should be raised, or by how much should it be raised or if it should remain the same. What is minimum wage? By definition, minimum wage is the minimum hourly wage an employer can pay an employee for work. (â€Å"MinimumWage.com†) America’s minimum wage was first introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. That minimum wage was introduced as part of the Fair