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The Realities of a $15.00 Minimum Wage
Background: In November 2020, you could be voting on increasing the minimum wage 77% to $15 an hour. If passed, how could this impact you, your family and your friends? Click for Ballot Language

Fast Facts:

  • $15/hr raises costs for businesses, which raises costs for consumers.
  • Senior citizens and others on fixed incomes cannot afford price increases.
  • Tipped employees could be moved to a flat rate and not receive tips, substantially reducing their income.
  • An increase of this magnitude will cost businesses $15,000 per employee.
  • An estimated half a million jobs will be lost in Florida.
  • New York City lost over 4,000 jobs after they mandated a $15/hr minimum wage.
  • Maine reversed their $15/hr increase after negative effects on the economy.
  • Over 50% of Americans think minimum wage should be increased, however, not to $15/hr.
  • No state economic impact study has been done to see the effects of a $15/hr minimum wage.
  • Federal Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said a $15 minimum wage would be an economic disaster.
  • Don’t vote yourself out of a job!

Loss of Jobs

  • Most never thought automation would advance to the level its is at today.  At this point, we already see automation at airports, fast food, super markets, etc. There are already bars in Miami using automated servers, etc. There is no doubt that as technology evolves alongside minimum wage hikes, you will see job cuts.

 

Loss of Benefits

  • The people that need it the most will be hurt the most. Individuals making current minimum wage are eligible for benefits such as childcare assistance, housing assistance, etc. If minimum wage skyrockets to $15/hr, entry level employees will make too much to be eligible for for these benefits (if they do not lose their job or have hours cut). They will not receive the benefits they once had and the $15 minimum wage doesn't make up the difference. They will still have less money then at the current minimum wage.

 

​Loss of Morale 

  • Once you provide entry level positions with 77% raises, everyone else in the company will demand raises. However, most businesses simply cannot afford to do so. This significantly lowers worker morale and performance.

 

Living Wage

  • What’s the "living wage"? The living wage in Pinellas County is $21 an hour. The living wage in Pinellas County is different from Palm Beach County. Lake City living wage is different from Jacksonville. A blanket wage for the whole state isn't logical. Even if Pinellas County business paid $15 an hour it’s still not a "living wage". Small businesses along the beaches (especially areas like John's Pass) simply cannot afford to pay employees $15 or more an hour.

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