Biden Calls For The Minimum Wage To Be Raised To $15/h, And Here Are The 30 Best Reactions
President-elect Joe Biden has unveiled a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal on Thursday. A part of it calls for a fatter paycheck for those working on federal minimum pay. Biden suggested boosting the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour, arguing that "No one working 40 hours a week should still be below the poverty line."
While presenting his speech on Thursday night in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden also went ahead of the critics reluctant to believe the plan will come true. “People tell me that’s going to be hard to pass. Florida just passed it—as divided as that state is—they just passed it. The rest of the country is ready to move as well.”
The federal minimum wage hasn’t been increased since 2009, and for over 33 million workers, the proposal feels like a tipping point for the better. But the Republicans balk at the idea, which makes Biden’s plans likely to be delayed. This, of course, has stirred heated reactions on social media, with many people weighing in on the needlessly ‘dramatic’ $15 wage discourse that’s been angering those conservatives.
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The federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour, has not been updated since 2009 even though it has been called an unlivable income in most parts of the country. But the newly elected president Biden’s “American Rescue Plan” gives hope after the economy lost 140,000 jobs in December and unemployment claims surged in the latest weekly count by the most since March due to the pandemic.
But the procedure to pass the $15/h boost will not be a straightforward one. According to Bloomberg, “The Biden administration, due to take office next week, would need at least 10 Republican votes in the Senate to get its relief bill through Congress—unless it goes through the budget reconciliation process, where a bare majority is enough.”
Other major parts of the $1.9 trillion Biden relief plan include:
- $2,000 stimulus checks on top of the $600 that Congress approved in December;
- $20 billion national vaccine distribution program that would provide free shots to all U.S. residents regardless of immigration status;
- $350 billion in state funding, local and territorial governments, and $20 billion for public transit systems;
- extending unemployment benefits;
- requiring employers to offer paid sick leave to their workers during the pandemic (estimated to benefit 106 million workers);
- expanding tax credits for low- and middle-income families, as well as expanding child tax credit;
- $170 billion to help schools to open;
- $30 billion rental assistance for low-income households;
- financing small businesses and providing grants for such employers.
I agree and this frightens me. Exploitation of men by men... What could go wrong?
My hubs life was literally on the line while delivering pizza. Attacked by a dog. His wound still recovering. Was dealing with staph infection too. So yea, his pay needs an up, for his sake and our family. And it'd be nice if I could have yearly doctor visits. I havent seen since 2013.
When I worked in Burger King in the UK I noticed that the average meal cost around an hour of my time. Funny that it happens world wide and that the price of the meal has gone up when wages have.
If you can't afford to pay your employees a decent wage, you're doing something wrong.
Even worse, some of them might even decide to quit their second and third job.
The business you work for IS supposed to pay you enough to pay your rent, bills, and other various costs of living... it's called a job. People have them so they can pay for those things specifically. Heard of it? Or are you so privileged that you've never needed to work in your life to provide for yourself.
100+ years ago, workers in US were rioting and striking for basic safety and a living wage. I'm just making an observation.
I love the "Undercover Boss" series where a CEO goes undercover, finds out how committed his employees are despite their terrible working conditions and in the end comes to the conclusion that he's been underpaying his employees for years. But only a few of them actually raised the wages in the entire company.
Unpaid internship is another thing that shouldn‘t exist. I wonder how many countries have that at all. The only unpaid internship I am aware of in my country is a mandatory two-weeks internship for all pupils in 8th grade or so, so they could see what real jobs are like.
Somehow poor people in the US get very offended when you propose a tax system where the extremely rich people pay more on taxes than the poor. The furiosity and vigor they show when they are defending the rich never ceases to amaze me.
Captions are wrong. People all stare in awe when a guy manages to make millions per day over the backs of underpaid workers, but no one bats an eye when people get underpaid, exploited and have to work in the most terrible working conditions.
Note: this post originally had 36 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I don't have anything witty to add but I'm just going to say what I see: How people having more than 2 jobs still can't support their families in the America is beyond me
Some very profitable companies pay their employees much more than minimum wage. Costco is a perfect example. --- Costco average employee wage $23/hour with benefits (https://www.businessinsider.com/highest-paid-retail-jobs-in-the-us-2019-6#2-shane-co-sales-associate-15)
EXACTLY. Businesses can profit fine if their employees have a good wage ----- b/c the employees can afford education, healthcare, etc., and aren't exhausted working 70 hours a week at three part-time jobs. Honestly, it's so weird to me that I wonder if these people really ever paid attention in Economics 101
So many cost effective ideas, ignored. Employee turn around is expensive and disruptive. Move up your current employees - they know the business and you know their work.
And honestly, whenever I shop at Costco the employees always seem to be genuinely happy. It’s very noticeable compared to other stores. They just seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs and enjoy working with each other. I’ve also noticed on their name tags that do many of them have been working there for years. (They put the year they started in there.) Go figure!
I know! One more reason to love Costco.
and they probably have a much lower turnover rate and much more motivated staff as a result....I hope one day companies learn that taking care of their workers is actually beneficial for them to.
Amazing isn't it! Treating your employees well is cost effective. Funny how happy customers spend more. I do think the happy attitude of the employees at Costco and Trader Joe's is part of their success.
See! Its not difficult!
I believe Trader Joe's does. Maybe I should read your link before commenting.
I don’t really understand why it bothers people that other workers get their hourly wage increased ? Would it diminish you ? Why don’t you be happy that they could now have money to get a house (instead of sleeping in their car or a trailer) and be able to pay a doctor and medecine when they need them.
Doctor and medicines should be free, for everyone.... Minimum Wage should be raised, don't the government realise, if they raise minimum wage, they can give tax cuts to the wealthy as they will get more tax revenue from the lower income people... sometimes it makes me wonder if any politician understands mathematics...
I asked a candidate talking to people outside the grocery store how he planned to lower taxes and increase spending in schools etc. He asked if I was lost, and suggested I go home.
Delboy yes
I just worry that if minimum wage is increased everything else you pay for will be increased due to having to pay people more money. Making no change in the way things are right now.
It's not even due to having to pay people more money. (Do you really think any of the apartment workers, office or handyman, specialized skills after all, are being paid minimum wage) However corporate, landlords, whoever will see "Hey our tenants have more money and nothing is preventing us from demanding more money."
aj B Good response!
Choice - raise the price of products or lower salaries of CEO's and other top level employees.
Because it doesn't do anything except raise the prices of everything.
In old days the wealthy paid the highest percentage of their income in taxes, not the lowest.
I don't have anything witty to add but I'm just going to say what I see: How people having more than 2 jobs still can't support their families in the America is beyond me
Some very profitable companies pay their employees much more than minimum wage. Costco is a perfect example. --- Costco average employee wage $23/hour with benefits (https://www.businessinsider.com/highest-paid-retail-jobs-in-the-us-2019-6#2-shane-co-sales-associate-15)
EXACTLY. Businesses can profit fine if their employees have a good wage ----- b/c the employees can afford education, healthcare, etc., and aren't exhausted working 70 hours a week at three part-time jobs. Honestly, it's so weird to me that I wonder if these people really ever paid attention in Economics 101
So many cost effective ideas, ignored. Employee turn around is expensive and disruptive. Move up your current employees - they know the business and you know their work.
And honestly, whenever I shop at Costco the employees always seem to be genuinely happy. It’s very noticeable compared to other stores. They just seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs and enjoy working with each other. I’ve also noticed on their name tags that do many of them have been working there for years. (They put the year they started in there.) Go figure!
I know! One more reason to love Costco.
and they probably have a much lower turnover rate and much more motivated staff as a result....I hope one day companies learn that taking care of their workers is actually beneficial for them to.
Amazing isn't it! Treating your employees well is cost effective. Funny how happy customers spend more. I do think the happy attitude of the employees at Costco and Trader Joe's is part of their success.
See! Its not difficult!
I believe Trader Joe's does. Maybe I should read your link before commenting.
I don’t really understand why it bothers people that other workers get their hourly wage increased ? Would it diminish you ? Why don’t you be happy that they could now have money to get a house (instead of sleeping in their car or a trailer) and be able to pay a doctor and medecine when they need them.
Doctor and medicines should be free, for everyone.... Minimum Wage should be raised, don't the government realise, if they raise minimum wage, they can give tax cuts to the wealthy as they will get more tax revenue from the lower income people... sometimes it makes me wonder if any politician understands mathematics...
I asked a candidate talking to people outside the grocery store how he planned to lower taxes and increase spending in schools etc. He asked if I was lost, and suggested I go home.
Delboy yes
I just worry that if minimum wage is increased everything else you pay for will be increased due to having to pay people more money. Making no change in the way things are right now.
It's not even due to having to pay people more money. (Do you really think any of the apartment workers, office or handyman, specialized skills after all, are being paid minimum wage) However corporate, landlords, whoever will see "Hey our tenants have more money and nothing is preventing us from demanding more money."
aj B Good response!
Choice - raise the price of products or lower salaries of CEO's and other top level employees.
Because it doesn't do anything except raise the prices of everything.
In old days the wealthy paid the highest percentage of their income in taxes, not the lowest.