Is it Wise to Have a Minimum Wage?

            As an eleven year old boy, I had a great desire to work. My first job was delivering the Star Ledger in Newark, NJ. I fudged a bit when the boss told me the minimum age was twelve. I don’t think he was overly concerned about age, especially when he witnessed my enthusiasm. I later found out that he wasn’t even too interested in how much money I made, since he “bilked” me on several occasions. The money didn’t seem that important because I enjoyed the privilege of having my own “business.” I did make some spending money, but that was overshadowed by the entrepreneurial spirit.

            This led to “bigger” things, like shining shoes on city streets, taverns, and barber shops. In my early teens, I worked in a small grocery store, stocking shelves, sweeping floors, delivering orders, etc. I made what I was offered, without ever thinking about a “minimum wage.” Even my chores on the home front had no monetary “guarantee;” it was all part of personal responsibility and gratitude for all that was provided. In fact, I have lived a life time of employment, never once demanding a certain salary.

            It seems like things have changed, especially regarding young people who expect to be “paid” for chores done around the house. Formerly “deprived” parents are now paying off junior for his coerced effort to pull his weight as a family member. Some children receive excessive allowances for doing nothing! I can’t help but think that such practices have a spoiling effect when it’s time to get a real job.

            Instead of seeking employment during high school and/or college years, the youngster now expects the parents to foot the bill. These students have been raised with a sense of entitlement or “you owe me” mentality. If they do work, the “minimum wage” handle has no appeal—it’s beneath their dignity. They want to make “big bucks” right up front.

            I was never confronted with a minimum wage; I worked for what the employer offered me, usually set by competitive standards.  If I didn’t like the job or the wage, I had the liberty to leave and find something else. The work experience was vital to my development and maturity as a human being. My further education and degree didn’t give me leverage to demand a big salary or high position; rather it afforded me the privilege of making a living, and participating in the mission and success of the business. Making the boss successful had direct bearing on my success.

            From the employer’s standpoint, minimum wages creates other problems. A business man may hire a young person to help part time, with the intent of training him for a steady position. He may not be able at that time to pay the required minimum, but can come to an agreed wage. At the same time, the young worker has a great opportunity to be employed, with great future possibilities.

            The prospect of breaking the “wage law” presents difficulty for both the boss the employee. In fact, the desire and ability for the business owner to create new jobs is jeopardized by such laws. Let the employer be free to offer his workers what he deems fair and agreeable. Let the free enterprise system take its course, validating what wages are minimum and maximum. I think it’s wise for the government to get out of the business of regulating wages in the private sector.