USA vs Canada - Minimum Wage...

[DVC~OKW~96]

Hmmmm...

All I know is that I see a LOT of people working two jobs (when working for minimum or low wages) to make ends meet (and no, I don't mean friviolity, I mean life sustaining) here in Florida.

It's difficult to find a decent (read clean, and moderately safe) place to live when you are making only minimum wage. There are some apartment complexes that are rent controlled, but there are often waiting lists, or are not clean or safe.

Minimum wage or low wages are not always an indication of skill level. We pay low wages for some very important jobs in this state, such as caregivers to our elders in ALFs or NH. Those care staff are responsible for the quality of life of the residents and they get paid very poor wages for the pleasure.

So be cautious in equating low pay with low skill or jobs of low importance. That's not the case in all situations.

 

[Feralpeg]

When I worked for the Disney Florist, I made $7.50 an hour. I got no benefits other than a 10% discount on Disney merchandise and the ability to go into the parks for free. I had an annual pass, so it didn't matter to me.

Part time people get no sick days or vacation days. They encouraged people to join the union, but that would have meant union dues coming out of my paycheck. I didn't join.

Many, many people who work for Disney work multiple jobs or are retired and this is a second income thing.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

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.

In our village the "garbage men" make decent money so not exactly true. We need to raise our minimum wage.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

In our village the "garbage men" make decent money so not exactly true. We need to raise our minimum wage.

Well, the OP complained about Disney wages and all sources sited are pretty simplistic skill level jobs.

Then she touted her own minimum wage as though Canada were better. We then find out from other Canadians that she is in an exceptional area and minimum wage varies just like it does here.

In any case--if a job is being tasked as a minimum wage job--it is a minimum skill level job.

If an employer wants or has to pay more b/c the demand for labor exceeds the labor pool, then they will pay more.

Raising minimum wage does not increase standard of living as folks are mislead to believe.

It was implemented to cut down on abuse of employees---but no matter how low that bar is, there will always be someone on the bottom of the totem pole that cannot make ends meet with whatever the minimal requirements of compensation are.

I.e. If we were to explore the OP's situation further, we'll discover that she likely isn't living high on the hog at $10/hour. That's only a little over $20K per year.

 

[merryweather20]

Well, the OP complained about Disney wages and all sources sited are pretty simplistic skill level jobs.

Then she touted her own minimum wage as though Canada were better. We then find out from other Canadians that she is in an exceptional area and minimum wage varies just like it does here.

In any case--if a job is being tasked as a minimum wage job--it is a minimum skill level job.

If an employer wants or has to pay more b/c the demand for labor exceeds the labor pool, then they will pay more.

Raising minimum wage does not increase standard of living as folks are mislead to believe.

It was implemented to cut down on abuse of employees---but no matter how low that bar is, there will always be someone on the bottom of the totem pole that cannot make ends meet with whatever the minimal requirements of compensation are.

I.e. If we were to explore the OP's situation further, we'll discover that she likely isn't living high on the hog at $10/hour. That's only a little over $20K per year.

The bolded is a rather bizarre stretch on your part. It says nothing of the sort in her post.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The bolded is a rather bizarre stretch on your part. It says nothing of the sort in her post.

Not a stretch at all...

She Canada b/c they have a higher minimum wage. But "Canada" does not. Her province, maybe. Not to mention the COL differences.

She implied it very well--when she said that it wasn't nice at all for Disney (the US) to have such a low minimum wage.

If anything is bizarre--it's the OP's post and misunderstanding of how her own country operates as clarify by other Canadians.

ETA: Reference post #34. and this link: http://canadaonline.about.com/library/bl/blminwage.htm

 

[abdmom]

Not a stretch at all...

She Canada b/c they have a higher minimum wage. But "Canada" does not. Her province, maybe.

She implied it very well--when she said that it wasn't nice at all for Disney (the US) to have such a low minimum wage.

If anything is bizarre--it's the OP's post and misunderstanding of how her own country operates as clarify by other Canadians.

ETA: Reference post #34.

Give her a break. She's 22.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Give her a break. She's 22.

Her age doesn't change her intent and that is all I was replying to Merryweather about.

Have a great day!

 

[DramaQueen]

Oh and I wanted to add, when minimum wage goes up hours are usually cut, like the pp said. What a WORLD!

that's for sure. i work in retail and ever since min wage went up to $10.25/hr I've had my shifts cut by more than 50%!! Last week I had FOUR HOURS this week I have 8 and my manager thinks he's doing me a favour by giving my 12 next week! Last year at this time I was getting 16+ hours/week.
My paychecks which were once $300+ are now somewhere around $150 after taxes!

a higher minumum wage is very nice, but my company can't support giving staff regular hours on wage like that...so it's not exactly a win-win situation.

 

[minnie56]

Disney's min wages are crazy. My DD is heading down to work there for a year in a couple of weeks and it's pretty sad pay. But heck, she'll have a good experience!

It's Disney tho...they can get away with it!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Disney's min wages are crazy. My DD is heading down to work there for a year in a couple of weeks and it's pretty sad pay. But heck, she'll have a good experience!

It's Disney tho...they can get away with it!

Their wage is higher than minimum ($7.25/hr), though.

They aren't "getting away" with anything.

 

[minnie56]

My daughter will end up in Le Cellier..her pay then will drop below minimum wage because it's a tipped position. She has friends there already and they are NOT making much money at all!

 

[eliza61]

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.

Actually I think we meant the opposite. We meant that for such little pay they do an awful lot and usually are pretty pleasent.

 

[declansdad]

Not a stretch at all...

She Canada b/c they have a higher minimum wage. But "Canada" does not. Her province, maybe. Not to mention the COL differences.

She implied it very well--when she said that it wasn't nice at all for Disney (the US) to have such a low minimum wage.

If anything is bizarre--it's the OP's post and misunderstanding of how her own country operates as clarify by other Canadians.

ETA: Reference post #34. and this link: http://canadaonline.about.com/library/bl/blminwage.htm

I agree, you seem to be reading more in to her posts that there is.

 

[MamaLema]

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

I think the real thing here is cost of living. Our minimum wage may be high, but we are taxed to death. Also simple things such as tomatoes can be $2 each!

 

[DeniseinNS]

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.

We definatly don't pay 40% in income taxes. I just looked at my last paystub and 8% was taken off for taxes, I don't think that's bad at all. As a server I also don't get taxes on every cent I make in tips. We also don't pay for our healthcare here which saves alot, I cannot believe what people pay for medical procedures in the U.S.

 

[Tiger926]

We definatly don't pay 40% in income taxes. I just looked at my last paystub and 8% was taken off for taxes, I don't think that's bad at all. As a server I also don't get taxes on every cent I make in tips. We also don't pay for our healthcare here which saves alot, I cannot believe what people pay for medical procedures in the U.S.

8% is your provincial rate up to $29,000.00 - you then have to add the federal rate of 15% to that, so being that you are in Nova Scotia, you pay 23% in taxes. I pay 26% federal (2nd highest tax bracekt) + 11.16% for a total of almost 40%. Between taxes and deductions, I don't see over 50% of my paycheque. That is just me - we still have to add my hubby's salary in there, and more of that goes to taxes too!

Just wanted to clarify since others might be confused - we pay both federal and provincial, and both of those taxes must be added together. Our tax rates are some of the highest in the world, and that can be clarified with this link:

http://www.kpmg.ca/en/services/tax/documents/2010_FederalandProvIncomeTaxRates1Q2010.pdf

HTH, Tiger

 

[Northstar]

One other factor that people are forgetting, in comparing minimum wage in different countries, is that the exchange rate between the two currencies fluctuates a lot more than the cost of living. It's hard to compare when you have to convert into a different currency, and then that conversion factor changes quickly.

To illustrate, the Canadian dollar reached a low point against the US dollar in 2002. Each Canadian dollar bought only about $.65 in US currency. So, if the OP were comparing that $10.25 Canadian to those Disney minimum wages at that time, the $7-$8 US would be looking pretty good, because her Canadian $10.25 would buy only about $6.50 in US dollars.
Fast forward to 2010, where the two currencies are almost even in value. Now $10.25 Canadian is a whole lot more than $7-$8 US.
And next year, who knows? Maybe the conversion rate will change a lot again.

Changes in the cost of living locally don't necessarily parallel changes in currency value. It's a source of anxiety to those who need to change currency (like us Canadians going on vacation to WDW!), but not so relevant to those who earn wages and spend them in the same currency.

 

[saradela]

I think the real thing here is cost of living. Our minimum wage may be high, but we are taxed to death. Also simple things such as tomatoes can be $2 each!

Yesterday a bought an ONION, one midium size, 2 dollars...........

 

[Northstar]

8% is your provincial rate up to $29,000.00 - you then have to add the federal rate of 15% to that, so being that you are in Nova Scotia, you pay 23% in taxes. I pay 26% federal (2nd highest tax bracekt) + 11.16% for a total of almost 40%. Between taxes and deductions, I don't see over 50% of my paycheque. That is just me - we still have to add my hubby's salary in there, and more of that goes to taxes too!

But you're forgetting the tax rate is on your adjusted income... after tax deductions (I mean the deductions you fill in when you are figuring your adjusted gross income on your tax return, not the deductions from your paycheque that your employer sends to Canada Revenue). The basic personal amount alone is about $10,000 for federal taxes. That's a big proportion of the total yearly wages of somebody making minimum wage. They would pay 23% only on their income above their deductions.