Dwelling Wage vs. Minimal Wage

Final evening I used to be studying a dialogue on FlyerTalk that obtained into the query of whether or not or not tipping needs to be an expectation of lodge housekeeping employees. That dialogue veered off into an even bigger query of minimal wage versus livable wage. That dialogue jogged my memory of two sources that I’ve highlighted up to now to assist college students perceive why minimal wage and livable wage are virtually by no means the identical factor. 

The Dwelling Wage Calculator is a superb useful resource hosted by MIT. The Dwelling Wage Calculator shows the present minimal wage and livable wage in all fifty U.S. states, the counties inside every state, and the most important metropolitan areas inside every state. The info is supplied based mostly on people and households. For instance, the livable wage for a single particular person in my county is $16.97/hour versus the minimal wage of $12.75 whereas the livable wage for a household of 4 with two working adults is $24.04/hour versus the minimal wage of $12.75/hour. To help these calculations the Dwelling Wage Calculator features a corresponding desk of typical bills for every given location. These bills embody taxes, housing, transportation, youngster care, and meals. 

Life on Minimal Wage (hyperlink opens a Google Doc) is an exercise that I developed virtually 13 years in the past to assist my civics college students acknowledge how troublesome it’s to save cash when your solely job(s) pay minimal wage with out advantages. To win at Life on Minimal Wage the scholars have to achieve 5 monetary targets that they choose. To earn cash the scholars have to finish the duties of their assigned jobs. The scholars then must pay required payments earlier than utilizing cash for his or her chosen monetary targets. As the sport progresses college students shall be issued “shock” playing cards which require them to spend cash on issues like dashing tickets, journeys to a well being clinic, and will increase in lease. The entire jobs in Life on Minimal Wage are linked in order that if one enterprise slows manufacturing or closes, the employees of one other enterprise are additionally impacted. The purpose right here is to show the consequences of a enterprise closing on a small city’s financial system.

Essential notes earlier than utilizing this exercise:
I’ve not adjusted this exercise to account for inflation since 2009. You may in all probability need to try this.

Earlier than you electronic mail me in regards to the Browning rifle purpose card, please perceive that these had been targets chosen by my college students in a rural group through which searching is commonly a household custom. You are welcome to vary that card to be used in your individual classroom.