Comments on: What Sheryl Sandberg Doesn’t Understand about Minimum Wage and Childcare

By: Emma

Emma — Wed, 17 May 2017 12:20:10 +0000

In reply to Jeanne. So much yes.

By: Emma

Emma — Wed, 17 May 2017 12:18:31 +0000

In reply to grannybunny. +1 to this! As someone earning significantly over minimum wage, I have no problems redistributing wealth.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 16 May 2017 20:06:39 +0000

I think a good solution to the concerns of a minimum wage hike driving up the costs of other goods and services is instead of making it an absolute dollar amount, have a “relative” minimum/maximum wage where the ratio of executives’ pay to that of lower workers must be kept under a certain amount. This solves both the Left’s concern of unfair wages and the Right’s of a hike in the minimum wage leading to inflation.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Tue, 16 May 2017 19:59:53 +0000

Well then, let’s just make there be no minimum wage. It would make everything cheaper! Except it won’t. What I want to see change is the culture that it’s ok for the WalMart CEO to make millions (a quick search says $21M) and his workers need to be on foodstamps. We can afford to give those workers a better wage but it would involve not having the 1% hold all the wealth. We need to start somewhere and maybe we should start by giving those workers a raise to show they are valued. It’s hard to feel you are a throwaway by our country yet that is how we treat them.

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 16 May 2017 18:37:31 +0000

Suzanne’s math nothwithstanding, the cost of daycare IS insane. I pay $11,000 per year per child. That’s more per year than the annual full-time tuition at our local State University! There is something seriously wrong there.

And yes, plenty of the parents there come in wearing uniforms for places that barely pay more than minimum wage so they are likely getting their care subsidized. Something’s gotta give!

By: Sherri

Sherri — Tue, 16 May 2017 16:56:51 +0000

In reply to Julie. Two problems with the math – first, it’s not an hour for hour match. If you work eight hours, you need to pay for about ten hours of day care to allow for pick up and drop off time. Secondly, I highly doubt an adult making minimum wage can afford the full cost of full time daycare (I know I wouldn’t have). Someone else is paying part or most of the cost, either taxpayers or private donations, neither of which are bottomless pits of cash. In theory, your math works, sort of, but since there are few, if any instances of minimum wage adults paying full price for day care, the justification that raising the minimum wage will help is moot.

By: Judith

Judith — Tue, 16 May 2017 15:59:26 +0000

A regulated minimum wage would be unnecessary if employees were always fairly compensated for their labor by employers. There are many sources of data to help employers develop fair wage ranges including standard of living costs by area.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 16 May 2017 15:53:05 +0000

I think Ms. Sandberg probably has a good handle on the economics – which are a bit more mixed than the dire situation you’re outlining above. (https://journalistsresource.org/studies/economics/inequality/the-effects-of-raising-the-minimum-wage ) My read on her post was that she was advocating public investment in child care (like most of the developed world) to make it affordable for working families, as well as paid family leave (again, like most of the developed world) to push out the timeline on when families have to put their very small babies into full time care.

By: grannybunny

grannybunny — Tue, 16 May 2017 15:48:45 +0000

Most Americans do not oppose the minor price increases that might result from raising the minimum wage. After all, right now there are full-time minimum wage workers who actually qualify for welfare, food stamps, etc. In other words, the American taxpayers are providing so-called corporate welfare to businesses — some of them extremely-profitable nationwide chains — to make up for the fact that the businesses are not paying their employees a living wage.

By: Evil HR Lady

Evil HR Lady — Tue, 16 May 2017 14:17:53 +0000

In reply to Julie. It's not just childcare that will increase though. Everything will increase with a minimum wage increase. You'll be hit on all sides, and may lose your job.