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Everything Feels Different
We’re entering a world of fast money, rage, sex, and escape
Oh yeah….I quit
If you started working 5 years ago at the $7.25 federal minimum wage and were given 3% raises every year, you’re now making $7.61.
Now imagine a 16-year-old high school sophomore getting hired as your new colleague at $13.50.
Well…you could ask your company to match the $13.50, but even if they do, the newbie didn’t have to work his ass off to be making almost twice what he would have been making a year and a half ago.
What’s more likely happening is we’re experiencing a frantic, bubble-like process where people quit to work down the street for more money.
Is there a limit to how much employers will pay for service and retail-oriented jobs? Are fast food companies going to pay $20 an hour if nobody’s willing to work for less?
Is inflation, in part, a result of companies simply raising their prices commensurate to the cost of raising pay?
I personally believe living on less than $20 an hour is impossible, but that was when an 8-ounce filet mignon was $7.00, a decent apartment was $750, and gas was $1.89.
If inflation doesn’t get under control, employers can pay $100 an hour and it won’t matter if a cheeseburger…
