Help me understand a "living wage"

[_bcspace]

If I want to incorporate the concept of a "living wage" into my payroll, how would I approach these three employees?

You wouldn't. You simply pay them what the market demands for their services. You could certainly be more generous if you want to, but that should be your choice, not a government mandate.

[_ajax18]

Of course it pays to keep a spouse at home as free labor! Duh.

I'm just saying if we got into a Marxist government situation where all those who had working spouses got laid off, you might be better off having your spouse stay home if the job you stand to lose paid better. If your pay increases according to how many children you have so that you can pay for the children, obviously I'd have as many as I could, me and Dr. Zayer :)

[_Koda Crest]

Of course it pays to keep a spouse at home as free labor! Duh.

I'm just saying if we got into a Marxist government situation where all those who had working spouses got laid off, you might be better off having your spouse stay home if the job you stand to lose paid better. If your pay increases according to how many children you have so that you can pay for the children, obviously I'd have as many as I could, me and Dr. Zayer :)

seems like a legitimate way to work a system.

[_subgenius]

As an employer, can someone help me understand the concept of a "living wage", and how it should influence the wages that I offer to my employees?

For example, suppose I have three workers.

One is 19 years old, and still lives at home. He has a High School education, rides his bike to work, and has no dependents.

The second is 27 years old. He has a wife and two small children, and lives in an apartment. He has student loans totaling over $100k, and drives a 2010 Toyota Sienna with a $250/mo lease payment. His wife has chosen not to work and stays home with the children.

The third is 53. He decided he wanted to work in Los Angeles, so he moved here with his wife, who has a good job as an accountant. They have no kids, and their house and car are paid for.

All three were hired at the same time, with no experience, and have worked for me for six months. They have all shown similar aptitude for the work.

If I want to incorporate the concept of a "living wage" into my payroll, how would I approach these three employees?

you should pay them what their time is worth in as much as it applies to the work they are doing.
In other words, pay your heart surgeon more than you pay your shoe shine guy. Their relative expenses that they have acquired, or not acquired, through their own choices should not be your concern, because it is, frankly, none of your business.

[_cinepro]

Why did you hire someone so overqualified for the job?

The living wage is gonna put the second guy (the overqualified dude) into bankruptcy.

I've interviewed many overqualified people who insist they will work for an entry level wage because they are so desperate. A large company in my industry just closed its doors, and so the market is flooded with people looking for jobs.

[_Jaybear]

you should pay them what their time is worth in as much as it applies to the work they are doing.

You wouldn't. You simply pay them what the market demands for their services. You could certainly be more generous if you want to, but that should be your choice, not a government mandate.

He did not ask "if" he should pay them a living wage, or if he had to. He asked, if he wanted to, what would it be.

Based on his prior comments, the three of you strike me as being like minded on the subject. You comments also remind me a statement your prophet once made about why he personally disliked slavery ... it was not profitable.

Slavery here would prove useless and unprofitable. I regard it generally as a curse to the masters. I myself hire many laborers and pay them fair wages; I could not afford to own them. I can do better than subject myself to an obligation to feed and clothe their families, to provide and care for them, in sickness and health.

[_subgenius]

you should pay them what their time is worth in as much as it applies to the work they are doing.

You wouldn't. You simply pay them what the market demands for their services. You could certainly be more generous if you want to, but that should be your choice, not a government mandate.

He did not ask "if" he should pay them a living wage, or if he had to. He asked, if he wanted to, what would it be.

i am not sure what you are smoking, but it must be the same thing that was used to imagine the rather absurd premise in the OP.

But now the answer is even simpler...but the question is rendered more absurd.

"In public policy, a living wage or subsistence wage is the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet basic needs...Living wage is defined by the wage that can meet the basic needs to maintain a safe, decent standard of living within the community and have the ability to save for future needs and goals"

He may now sit in judgment and dictate to his 'slaves' what is safe and decent; and what their future goals should be....otherwise if all are doing the same work for unequal pay he will not be successful for himself or them.

The OP has now become tantamount with just asking each employee what they would prefer to be paid.....where do i get an application?!

[_Jaybear]

i am not sure what you are smoking, but it must be the same thing that was used to imagine the rather absurd premise in the OP.

The premise of the OP was: "If I want to incorporate the concept of a "living wage" into my payroll,"
Are you suggesting that its absurd that think that Cinepro would want to incorporate the concept of a living wage into his payroll? Based on his other comments, I can't say that you are wrong.

But now the answer is even simpler...but the question is rendered more absurd.

"In public policy, a living wage or subsistence wage is the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet basic needs...Living wage is defined by the wage that can meet the basic needs to maintain a safe, decent standard of living within the community and have the ability to save for future needs and goals"

He may now sit in judgment and dictate to his 'slaves' what is safe and decent; and what their future goals should be....otherwise if all are doing the same work for unequal pay he will not be successful for himself or them.

Actually, no. The calculation of a living wage is done objectively, just as the calculations for setting the "poverty line" Google living wage calculator and see for yourself.

The OP has now become tantamount with just asking each employee what they would prefer to be paid.....where do i get an application?!

When I see a inane argument like this, I can't help but wonder whether you are troll.

[_moksha]

If I want to incorporate the concept of a "living wage" into my payroll, how would I approach these three employees?

You wouldn't. You simply pay them what the market demands for their services. You could certainly be more generous if you want to, but that should be your choice, not a government mandate.

I think the term "what the market demands" means to pay as little as you can get away with, when you are not mandated to comply with some benefit to society.