Should the minimum wage be different for teenagers?

[PistolSteve]

For teens who are not 'independents' and are living with their parents (high-schoolers), should they have a separate minimum wage?

I have another minimum wage poll here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2856930

[madinmaryland]

1. delete

[BeliQueen]

2. self deleted

[valerief]

3. 18 and 19 yr olds are teenagers. Are you saying that anyone

who shares their living expenses with someone else should get a lower wage?

Instead of polling for low wages, why not poll for the high wages/salaries. Should CEOs get 4000% annual compensation than their lowest paid employees?

[PistolSteve]

5. You are right - I tried to clarify this in my post though...

It only applies to legal dependents / high schoolers. Teenagers was a bad term, but I think people get the idea.

[Donnachaidh]

10. whoa whoa whoa now!

Why should it be any different for kids living at home? Do they carry a stamp on their forehead that says *I live at home, I should be paid less*?

I started working at 14, and made minimum wage. I lived at home -- and worked JUST as hard as everyone else. I paid my OWN bills, and gave my parents a break from them. AND saved for college.

Anything less than equal pay for those kids who are working or want to work is a CROCK.

[PistolSteve]

32. I didn't say that... why did you think I did? nt

[Donnachaidh]

36. because of this line in your initial *poll*

"For teens who are not 'independents' and are living with their parents (high-schoolers), should they have a separate minimum wage?"

It's exactly what you said. Different wages for kids who live at home?

I.don't.think.so.

[1monster]

30. Some of those teen agers who are living with their parents are helping

out the family financially.

Some are saving for college.

If they drive a car, they have the same car payments, car maintenance, and (higher)insurance costs as the rest of us.

Why pay them less for doing the same job as a person who is not a teen living with his/her parents?

And if a teen can do the job for less, that means and adult may not be able to get a job unless he/she does it for less too.

[Nederland]

4. Should wages be based on need?

That is the real question. The whole idea of a "living wage" is that people should get paid according to how much money they "need" to live. Of course, a person's needs depends entirely on their situation--where they live, whether or not they are married, if they have kids, etc. Since teenagers "need" less money, I would expect living wage advocates to vote 'Yes' in this poll.

[PistolSteve]

6. Take home income is based on need somewhat...

...and no one argues that. In fact, I argue that the rich should pay more all the time.

[Nederland]

11. But what about wages? Should they differ?

That is the poster's question. Like you said, nobody is arguing that we should abolish the progressive tax system.

[PistolSteve]

19. Well the progressive tax system is identical to giving more to those who need it.

Those who don't need the money (the rich) take home a smaller proportion then those who do (the poor).

[Hippo_Tron]

22. Theoretically you are correct, but economically it's just not possible

If we raised the wage to a living wage for everyone but teenagers then businesses would just hire teenagers for the low paying jobs and many adults wouldn't be able to find work.

The only way to do it is to set some sort of standard of what "need" means.

[pennylane100]

7. Are they still expected to work as hard

adults earning more. I'm sure they are, and they should earn as much.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Yes, Absolutely

Minimum wage for adults should be a living wage - say $12.50 an hour or so. It would have to be gradually ratcheted up to this rate, say, over 5 years.

Teens would not get work at that rate, so it should be lower.

[Poll_Blind]

9. Equal wages for equal work. It shouldn't matter whether or not...

...they're living with their parents, grandparents or (on the flipside) indepently-wealthy millionaries.

You work an hour, you should get paid the same for that hour's work as everyone else, regardless of race, creed, education level, finances or living arrangements.

PB

[RiverStone]

37. Agree. But...

As long as a teenager is in school, there are strict guidelines which limit the amount of time a kid can work on school nights/weekends.

That should be the ONLY difference; but an important one.

[philosophie_en_rose]

12. Absolutely not. It hurts both adult and teen workers.

Work is work. In addition to depriving teenagers of wages, paying teens less encourages age discrimination against older workers.

[Warpy]

13. I can't see creating a pool of second class citizens based

solely on age. Besides, a lot of scumball employers will look for ways to exploit them, like threatening to fire them if they disclose their birthdays or firing any employee who turns 18 or 21, depending on the cutoff age.

Besides, those kids are likely saving for college and some of them even have children to support. It's unconscionable to pay them less just because suburban brats need the experience more than they do the money.

[etherealtruth]

14. What about teens living in impoverished homes ...

I've known more than a few kids that helped ease the family burden by working.

Like so many others I believe : equal pay for equal work.

[PistolSteve]

16. Some businesses locally give raises upon graduation...

Menards, namely. They give students $2.50 an hour more when they graduate (or turn 18) and hire people older than 18 at those wages.

[valerief]

15. The cost of living from one part of the country to another can be

extraordinary. Minimum wage s/b tied to cost of living and inflation, not age.

[Hippo_Tron]

17. Lower the minimum wage for teenagers was a mind-numbingly stupid idea of Raygun's

It just means that businesses will be more inclined to hire teenagers instead of adults who actually need the money. Unemployment is extremely low so I contend that there is no shortage of low paying jobs and that would remain the case if we were to raise the minimum wage to a living wage for everyone, teenagers included. Besides, teenagers aren't necessarily going to just spend the money. With ever increasing college costs it will help them save for college.

[warrens]

18. It's a training wage when still in high school

After they leave high school, minimum wage should apply.

[Donnachaidh]

21. Baloney!

Kids in high school work JUST as hard as the graduates -- sometimes more. Anything less than minimum wage is discrimination.

[Hippo_Tron]

23. Seems to me that would encourage some kids to drop out of high school

Why stay in if you can get paid more to not be in school?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

27. Mc Jobs suck?

Ever try smelling like burgers and fries all the time, it's not a good thing. However, if it could be a stepping stone to funding a college education, it may give some kids a reason to feel they have a real shot at a future.

Also, it could keep more kids in school and off the streets earning an illegal living if they feel they have a shot at the proverbial "American Dream."

[Lone_Star_Dem]

20. I've know teens who work to support their family

While they live at home the are also a contributor to the household income, sometimes the largest contributor.

[Sydnie]

24. That's really one of the most ridiculous questions I have ever heard

Isn't that the time of their lives when what they are able to earn and save can mean the difference between furthering their education and not doing so? I don't know about things where you are but, for example, my car insurance is less than $700 for the year. My 19 year old sons car insurance is around $2,000 a year. Gas costs the same for him as it does for me, repairs, pocket money (that I don't have to earn to give to him), cell phone ... etc. Unless there are going to be special cut prices rates charged for these types of things for those age groups, then why should they make less when they are working just as hard?

The ones that work these types of jobs are trying to earn something for themselves ... a car, a school trip, hell, maybe even money to aid the family as a whole. Why should they be paid less? Are teenagers of both sexes the new "females" in the workplace? Sheesh. :(

[PistolSteve]

29. I agree with you 100%... still not a stupid question...

25% of DUers disagree with us

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

25. Nope.

[The Anti-Neo Con]

26. It should be the same IMO.

With college costs as high as they are, teens need all the money they can to save. The more a kid saves to put toward their education, the less in debt they will have to be upon graduation. It's not easy starting out on your own with a lot of debt, that's why there are so many 20-something boomerang kids out there today.

[OhioChick]

28. Hell No.

Teens should be paid equally. I know of so many high-school kids busting their asses working, trying to save up "something" for the high cost of college tuition in this day and age.

[Selatius]

31. A 15 dollar minimum wage might be considered a "living wage," but that means...

very few employers would be hard pressed to hire many teenagers for 15 dollars an hour.

[originalpckelly]

33. This is a very interesting question...

I have to say it has me thinking.

The purpose of a minimum wage, in my book, is to provide someone with a living wage. What happens if someone is living with their parents, and they are in high school? They probably don't need as much money to live a basic life do they?

Very interesting.

And then there are the arguments about age discrimination. A very good point, because some senior citizens compete for those low paying wages, because they either want a little extra money or just want to get out of the house.

It's a very interesting problem.

[ThomCat]

34. Nobody should be paid less for the same work. Ever.

If we justify it for one group we'll start justifying it for others.

[Uben]

35. Are products and services any cheaper for teens?

Hell no, so why should their wages be cheaper? That would classify them as second class citizens or workers. I was brighter and more ambitious as a teen than 80% of the people over 20 at the time.

This reminds me of what my dad told me at about age 19. I had applied for a job, but when I found out it paid minimum wage, I told the employer I could not work for that amount and thanked him for his time. My dad said not to worry about losing the job to another person, for surely they know what they are worth. I found a job that paid twice that the next week, and came with some prestige as well! We all know what we are worth. You may be forced to accept a job that pays less than you are worth, but you are by no means bound to stay there. Keep looking till you find someone who appreciates your talents and are willing to pay for them accordingly.