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Minimum wage increase is bittersweet for Aiken
7/23/2008 10:50 PM   2 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend



By RACHEL JOHNSON

Staff writer

Today employees making minimum wage will get a little extra.

Effective immediately, employers are required by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment Standards Administration to pay $6.55 per hour for minimum wage, a 70-cent increase.

In May of 2007, Congress approved the first increase in the federal minimum wage since 1997, ending the longest stretch without an increase since it was established in 1938. Plans were set in place to increase the rate from $5.15 to $7.25 over the next few years. By this time in 2009, minimum wage will be set at $7.25 nationwide.

Around Aiken County this morning, many employees are smiling while employers are balancing checkbooks trying to make ends meet. The general sentiment from businesses is the cost of everything is going up and the profit margins are declining.

For Linda Allen, owner of City Billiards in downtown Aiken, she has simply seen enough. "I just don't know what is next," she said with a sigh of frustration. "The City of Aiken's smoking ban has dropped my night time business way off and with a wage increase its going to hit me real hard. What else can they take from us?"

Across town, at Career Personnel, Kristin Bodkin and Shamika Minor are filling out paperwork. Minor couldn't be happier with the wage increase as she prepares to start a new job. "It may hit employers pockets but employees will want to come into work because they are making more money," Minor said as she signed on with the company.

Bodkin agrees with Minor, "From my standpoint I think it is awesome. We have seen a lot of people not being able to get to work with gas prices rising. While the increase is affecting clients' pockets, they are getting better employees in return."

Other employers in town are not feeling the effects of the rising minimum wage rate as much as they are rising operation costs. "Our clients are feeling an increase from across the board of gas prices and raw materials. These things are affecting our clients the most," explained Laura Smith, vice president of operations at Aiken Staffing Associates. Despite these increases, she said there has not been a decrease in the number of jobs available; however, there has been a significant increase in job seekers.

Large retailers housed in Aiken such as Lowes and Wal-Mart were unavailable to comment on the effects of wage increases as of press time.

No matter the perspective, the almost 12 percent increase in federal minimum wage is a reality, effective today.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.


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  2 comment(s) on this story

Just Your Opinion :  7/24/2008

Their are those of us who are glad Linda is willing to stand up for what she thinks is right. I'm sure there are those who get up in the morning and go to work FOR SOMEONE ELSE! Try doing that and knowing everything you do will directly affect your (and all your employees and their families) paycheck and quality of life. It's different when YOU have to sign the checks. You cannot hide behind your boss or take a vacation when you get stressed. Small business owners ensure all their employees are compensated for their work. They know without their employees, their business would not exist. So the fact the government is forcing some narrow minded employers to compensate their employees, does not mean most of the business owners in Aiken don't take care of their employees. Small business owners are what keep Aiken and great place to live. Anyone would count themselves very lucky to have someone like her as your friend. And as far as the smoking and drinking. I guess you are one of those folks who would rather live in a cookie cutter city. Linda and the other business owners in Aiken look at each customer as someone special, wanting to provide what their customer wants. Yet another aspect of what makes Aiken a great place is there are business owners willing to provide different unique experiences for those wanting it. And if that is smoking, having a drink and playing pool, the last time I check, THIS IS STILL THE USA. And Have A Nice Day!

Give Me a Break

sick of lindas comments :  7/24/2008

Sick of reading your crybaby comments in the paper ALL THE TIME! Do you think you are the only one with increased expenses? People that work for minimum wage costs of living also went up. Imagine that one-hour of working still wont buy a gallon of milk! If an extra 5.60 per day for a minimum wage employee is going to break the bank close up shop honey! Guess what smoking drinking and playing pool are not top priorities in most people’s lives.

just saying
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