USA vs Canada - Minimum Wage...

[tinkerbell_xo]

I saw on the DIS unplugged podcast thread that WDW is hiring, so out of curiousty I took a look at the available jobs.

And I was shocked.

These are the available positions and hourly rate:
food & beverage - quick-service -> $7.95/hour
food & beverage - dishwasher -> $7.70/hour
housekeeping -> $8.25/hour
custodial -> $7.70-$8.70/hour
lifeguard -> $8.20-$9.15/hour
recreation/slide operations -> $7.70/hour

Minimum wage where I live (Ontario, Canada) is $10.25/hour.
The CDN/USD is at par right now.
I don't know how people survive off $7.70.hour, that's just not nice.

CANADA

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Don't forget that is COL.

While I don't pretend that I could survive on those wages....

Places like NYC have higher minimum wages. There is a federal minimum, some states have their own minimums that are higher--and perhaps even some municipalities set even higher wages as minimum. Not sure though.

Living in Orlando costs less than living in Canada.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Wow, that's a nice minimum wage. It's $7.25 here, $1,000/year over the poverty line. You couldn't survive on what Disney pays here in PA.

 

[Northstar]

Wow, Ontario is that high? Nova Scotia just went up this month. It was $8.60 an hour and is now $9.20.

As prior poster said, the minimum wage varies a lot from province to province and state to state.

How do people survive... well, what I did back in the day when I was trying to survive on a minimum wage job was live with roommates in a decrepit slummy apartment, work two or three jobs, and never buy anything other than food, basic clothing from thrift stores, and shelter. Not fun. Not the way anybody intends to live their whole life. "Survive" is the right word.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Wow, that's a nice minimum wage. It's $7.25 here, $1,000/year over the poverty line. You couldn't survive on what Disney pays here in PA.

I can't survive off $8 phr in Indiana! Indy has a fairly low cost of living too.
Minimum wage in the US is awful. I don't know how anyone making below at least $10 phr can afford anything.

 

[saradela]

Here in Mexico the minimun wage is 7 dollars PER DAY.
OMG, you are sooooooooooooo rich!!!!!!!

 

[eliza61]

I saw on the DIS unplugged podcast thread that WDW is hiring, so out of curiousty I took a look at the available jobs.

And I was shocked.

These are the available positions and hourly rate:
food & beverage - quick-service -> $7.95/hour
food & beverage - dishwasher -> $7.70/hour
housekeeping -> $8.25/hour
custodial -> $7.70-$8.70/hour
lifeguard -> $8.20-$9.15/hour
recreation/slide operations -> $7.70/hour

I don't know how people survive off $7.70.hour, that's just not nice.

:

Which is pretty much one reason Disney has such high turnover rates with their employees.
I'm constantly amazed that the cm's are as friendly as they are.

 

[javaj]

Here in Mexico the minimun wage is 7 dollars PER DAY.

This is one of the reasons corporations outsource. Here's a list of minimum wages worldwide:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_wages_by_country

 

[Sparx]

In Tennessee, a tipped position actually gets paid 2.13/hr. LEGALLY the employer is suppoesed to catch the employee up to minimum wage if they don't make enough in tips. However, in my experience, the managers will change your reported tips to make it look like you make a lot more than you did so they don't have to catch you up. 2.13 an hour is a ridiculous wage, and no one can live on that, especially if they have an employer like what I've described.

 

[tinkerbell_xo]

Which is pretty much one reason Disney has such high turnover rates with their employees.
I'm constantly amazed that the cm's are as friendly as they are.

That's what I was thinking!
I'm going to be EXTRA nice to CMs next time around. The work they do, and the work that's described in those job postings, deserves WAY more than mimimum wage. Minimum wage means minimum work is being done and CMs definitely go above and beyond in most cases!

I knew minimum wage was low in the states but this really brought it all into perspective for me.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

That's what I was thinking!
I'm going to be EXTRA nice to CMs next time around. The work they do, and the work that's described in those job postings, deserves WAY more than mimimum wage. Minimum wage means minimum work is being done and CMs definitely go above and beyond in most cases!

I knew minimum wage was low in the states but this really brought it all into perspective for me.

Minimum wage does not mean minimum work is being done. Usually, those that make less money are doing more. Minimum wage usually denotes skill level. But not always.

 

[tinkerbell_xo]

Minimum wage does not mean minimum work is being done. Usually, those that make less money are doing more. Minimum wage usually denotes skill level. But not always.

Oh, what I meant is when a job offers minimum wage the responsibilities involved should be minimum.

I know people who get paid minimum wage often work extremely hard and take their work very seriously.

 

[wvjules]

Doens't it kind of even out in taxes though? A person making minimum wage here pays way less in taxes than a person making minimum wage in Canada. Don't you guys pay something like 40% in income taxes? A person here probably effectively pays 0 in income taxes.

 

[tinkerbell_xo]

Doens't it kind of even out in taxes though? A person making minimum wage here pays way less in taxes than a person making minimum wage in Canada. Don't you guys pay something like 40% in income taxes? A person here probably effectively pays 0 in income taxes.

Are you referring to the taxes that are taken off each pay check?

 

[wvjules]

Are you referring to the taxes that are taken off each pay check?

Yes. Our employees get it taken out here but if they are making minimum wage the probably get most, if not all, of it back.

BTW, how much do you think an unskilled dishwasher should make?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That's what I was thinking!
I'm going to be EXTRA nice to CMs next time around. The work they do, and the work that's described in those job postings, deserves WAY more than mimimum wage. Minimum wage means minimum work is being done and CMs definitely go above and beyond in most cases!

I knew minimum wage was low in the states but this really brought it all into perspective for me.

We should be nice to them anyway.

But it is important to point out that those are STARTING wages. Not final wages. Disney does give raises--though not very big. Once you are in the company, you will see the range per each level.

Plus they are a big company that hires from within and thus the ultimate goal for an employee shoudln't be to stay put on It's a Small World, but to find ways to move up in the company.

Sadly--they are very picky in that regard and after about 3 or so years, my brother finally left the company. He had years of C/S expereince (including leadership) and a college degree, put in 3 years and couldn't bump out of hourly. It frustrated him. While yes, his pay was paltry in comparison--he was more discouraged by a ceiling that seemed to play towards favoritism.

I also worked for Disney. I made minimum--it didn't bother me. Guests were always kind and the lobby staff was amazing to me. I didn't leave for "pay" per se. The job I left for did pay more--but the way I was treated by a co-worker and a coach was appalling and employer abuse.

I remember THE BEST DAY EVER at that job was when the "coach" (aka manager) who had such disdain for me was forced by HR to specifically ask me what it would take to get me to stay with the company. Poetic Justice at its finest.

Anyway--turnover is not only due to the pay, but a whole host of other factors as it can be with any company.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

Oh, what I meant is when a job offers minimum wage the responsibilities involved should be minimum.

I know people who get paid minimum wage often work extremely hard and take their work very seriously.

I realize it's probably different in Canada, but in customer service industries (at least around here) minimum wage workers usually have the most responsibilities. I've known quite a few who have almost killed themselves doing all sorts of stressful jobs only to get a few bucks per paycheck. IMHO, the system in many companies is messed up.

I agree though, they should have the least responsibilities.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Doens't it kind of even out in taxes though? A person making minimum wage here pays way less in taxes than a person making minimum wage in Canada. Don't you guys pay something like 40% in income taxes? A person here probably effectively pays 0 in income taxes.

This - taxes and cost of living are much lower in Florida. It more than evens out.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh, what I meant is when a job offers minimum wage the responsibilities involved should be minimum.

I know people who get paid minimum wage often work extremely hard and take their work very seriously.

Wages are tied to skills in this country. Emptying a garbage can or waving guests onto a ride is not exactly a high skill level position.

 

[Northstar]

Doens't it kind of even out in taxes though? A person making minimum wage here pays way less in taxes than a person making minimum wage in Canada. Don't you guys pay something like 40% in income taxes? A person here probably effectively pays 0 in income taxes.

The top wage earners may have 40% marginal tax rates, but someone making minimum wage is in the lowest tax bracket. And there's a standard deduction, just like in the US (I am lucky enough to file taxes in both countries so I am familiar with this stuff.) So as far as federal income taxes go, it's not so different.