Federal Minimum Wage Poll

The current federal minimum wage is currently $7.25/hr and has not changed since 2009.

Biden's COVID relief proposal includes an increase to the federal minimum wage to at least $15.00/hr citing that no full time worker should still be below to poverty line.

Many people commonly state that minimum wage should be a livable wage. However, some criticize by saying flipping burgers or equivalent is not meant to yield a livable wage.

Others fear the effect on small businesses and of course, if the bar on minimum wage is raised, the bar on other things (cost of food, living, goods, other pay rates, etc.) will rise proportionally, not really solving the issue.

What is your opinion of increasing the federal minimum wage to $15.00/hr?

problem is increase to $15 or more will force many many companies to bring automated system or self checkout machines as quick as possible and that will create more problems for many people out there.
im not against increasing at all but we need to keep other part of the picture in our minds as well.

I see this as inflationary. Labor is the biggest expense in most businesses. If I'm paying $15 min for all my employees, I will have to either cut employees or raise the price of my product. If a burger flipper is making $15 an hr then I need to raise the cost of that burger to offset the new labor costs. In the long run, I'm likely going to raise the price of my product and reduce employees as I start to leverage new technology. The $15 min wage would work in the cities but outside the city it's ridiculous. If a burger flipper makes $15 then we need to raise the wage of everyone else because cost of goods will go up and everyone's buying power will be less unless their wages are adjusted accordingly.

Just keep it where it is. How can people not understand that prices will immediately go up on everything? It’s just going to cancel itself out

Not sure if minimum wage is a good idea. There are many jobs that can’t justify $15/hr cost. Those jobs will go away and leave many unskilled workers out of any options in the labor market.

I rather we tax the rich more and use the money to support welfare programs. I think with an increase in the minimum wage the cost of living would only increase and we would be back to square one

Set to $15/hr and peg it to inflation.

I think we should increase to $15, but over time, probably a 2-year phase in. Right now is not the time, probably 2022 should kick in.

Some folks out there argue it will cause small businesses to cut cost and laid off. True in some instances. But I argue that it's also giving the market a chance to "weed out" weak businesses. If your restaurant can't handle $15 per hour AND you are running hot with too many customers, sounds like either someone is lying about the financial situation (which is pretty common for tax evasion), or they are mismanaging their operation. Those barely surviving pre-covid are doom anyway.

If a restaurant is running on low staff but business is overwhelming, soon customers will complain about poor food quality or poor customer service and they will just move. In the end, people who are lost their job will find one somewhere else that's expanding and booming. Who doesn't want more $$? Ask Florida. they hate the democrats, but they voted for $15 this year.

Inflation is about to go off the roof with $15 minimum wage!

As a nation we need both unskilled and skilled workers. The janitor in a hospital is as vital as a nurse. Do unskilled workers not deserve to be able to provide for themselves and their families?