I remain troubled by this living wage concept, not that I don’t understand the need for people to earn a reasonable income to support their families, but by proponents’ insistence that the only way to achieve improved pay is by mandating higher salaries.
Nowhere is there a mention of developing skills, providing individuals with the opportunity and the wherewithal to learn new skills or improve upon the ones they have, so they can improve the quality and rewards of their work.
Nowhere has anyone suggested job counseling for these workers to determine what goals they may have, or what motivation they may have to seek higher skilled positions, and what obstacles they perceive to their participating in training programs.
We are in an era when we still hear consistently from business and industry that among the chief impediments to expansion is the lack of skilled workers.
Then we hear from the living wage proponents that we have all these dedicated and hard working individuals in lower paying jobs who need to improve their income to be able to support their families. So they suggest that we just mandate higher wages, virtually doubling the minimum wage for public employees and those employed in private industry who are working on public projects.
Here’s the prescription that I think works. It’s not quite as easy as one and one makes two, but it’s close. Job counseling and training = better skills = better jobs = better pay and benefits.
First, I am appalled every time I hear a group just demand handouts to improve situations, without considering the consequences, not to mention the dignity of those they purport to represent.
I am equally appalled that the target is always the barons of business, who are perceived as wealthy and evil, sucking up every ounce of energy or dignity of the workers they employ for their own personal gain.
Surely, there are employers who take advantage of workers — and there are workers who take advantage of employers. But I believe there are far more employers who understand that a strong, happy and dedicated workforce is the foundation upon which a strong company is built. And I believe most employees understand how important it is for the company to remain healthy for their own job security and potential for advancement.
That aside, when it comes to improving the wages for the lowest paid wage earners, I believe that it is best done through improved training programs and job counseling.
Job counseling is necessary to understand the employees’ goals, their needs — are they indeed the primary wage earner for their family — and whether they are amenable to participating in training programs. It is necessary to develop an atmosphere that can assure willing participants placement in programs, that assures they have the time. It might be necessary to consider short-term financial help to eliminate the need during training for individuals to also work second or third jobs to support their families.
Besides the numerous training grants available, I would think the city might set aside some funds for employee training, and that some businesses might participate, understanding that better trained workers will ultimately benefit the business, possibly filling some of those unfilled higher skill positions.
