The Living Wage, Who Does It Really Benefit?

The division of labor in today’s America can be described in a simple pyramid. At the top of the pyramid are the corporate presidents who depend on individual owners to keep the profits up. The middle section of the pyramid includes the managers of each store, responsible for maintaining employee productivity. The bottom of the pyramid contains the most abundant and expendable block, the low-wage workers. If one level does not function properly, the overall workforce cannot prosper. The problem is that the lowest level of workers cannot function to their full ability because they are not earning enough income to survive until the next paycheck. Something must be done to help these poor families. A recent living wage has been proposed by numerous individuals, including author Ehrenreich. In her book, Nickel and Dimed: on Not Getting by in America, she offers a personal viewpoint regarding the reasons for a living wage. However, better solutions are available. Although the Ehre...