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Anyone else think minimum wage is a joke?

  • 24-01-2017 08:43PM
    #1
    Cupatae
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,915 ✭✭✭


    Ive recently taken on a job paying minimum wage going from a decent paying job (that i was lucky to have!) due to family circumstances...and i honestly cant see how anyone can have any sort of a life on minimum wage! employers are basically exploiting people with minimum wage, they can clearly afford to pay a better wage but chose not to for obvious reasons..

    The workloads the same if not worse, but the wages are shocking they really need to up that wage!

    Anyone else think the wages should scale to the money being made by the place the person is working for, i mean if they are making top $$ and being stingy paying minimum wage its basically just exploiting.


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Comments

  • #2
    Alpha_zero
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 907 ✭✭✭Alpha_zero


    Life is so f ucking depressing


  • #3
    Cupatae
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,915 ✭✭✭Cupatae


    Alpha_zero wrote: »
    Life is so f ucking depressing

    Only when yeah look at ur pay slip, other than that its great craic! :P:D


  • #4
    wakka12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,786 ✭✭✭wakka12


    Everyone thinks it should be higher when theyre the one getting it. Im sure you didnt care when you had the good job. And its better than 90% of the worlds minimum wage so maybe we should appreciate that as well


  • #5
    Cupatae
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,915 ✭✭✭Cupatae


    wakka12 wrote: »
    Everyone thinks it should be higher when theyre the one getting it. Im sure you didnt care when you had the good job. And its better than 90% of the worlds minimum wage so maybe we should appreciate that as well

    Oh of course, it wouldnt have even entered my mind, but still that doesnt make it right i mean, taking home 360 a week and having nothing but the fluffy in ur pocket at the end of it all when all bills are paid.

    It is better than nothing, but it is still fairly bad with the cost of living in Ireland to be fair..


  • #6
    Alpha_zero
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 907 ✭✭✭Alpha_zero


    wakka12 wrote: »
    Everyone thinks it should be higher when theyre the one getting it. Im sure you didnt care when you had the good job. And its better than 90% of the worlds minimum wage so maybe we should appreciate that as well

    Poverty is a f ucking disease


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  • #7
    eeguy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,399 ✭✭✭eeguy


    No one is meant to live on minimum wage. It's a starting point for you to go onto better paid positions.

    You're just doing life backwards.


  • #8
    Alpha_zero
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 907 ✭✭✭Alpha_zero


    Cupatae wrote: »
    Only when yeah look at ur pay slip, other than that its great craic! :P:D

    This is your first time on minimum wage, you will see


  • #9
    Cupatae
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,915 ✭✭✭Cupatae


    Aussie Semi wrote: »
    And you think paying over the odds for labour is going to help the cost of living?

    No but do you think the minimum wage/cost of living are balanced correctly as it stands?


  • #10
    onrail
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,083 ✭✭✭onrail


    Cupatae wrote: »
    Ive recently taken on a job paying minimum wage going from a decent paying job (that i was lucky to have!) due to family circumstances...and i honestly cant see how anyone can have any sort of a life on minimum wage! employers are basically exploiting people with minimum wage, they can clearly afford to pay a better wage but chose not to for obvious reasons..

    The workloads the same if not worse, but the wages are shocking they really need to up that wage!

    Anyone else think the wages should scale to the money being made by the place the person is working for, i mean if they are making top $$ and being stingy paying minimum wage its basically just exploiting.

    Nope. You're paid what you're worth, and in the case of a statutory minimum wage, you're being paid more than what you're worth.


  • #11
    Alpha_zero
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 907 ✭✭✭Alpha_zero


    eeguy wrote: »
    No one is meant to live on minimum wage. It's a starting point for you to go onto better paid positions.

    You're just doing life backwards.

    Yet plenty do. How much you earn an hour?


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  • #12
    eeguy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,399 ✭✭✭eeguy


    Cupatae wrote: »
    No but do you think the minimum wage/cost of living are balanced correctly as it stands?

    Depends how you define cost of living. Minimum wage is minimum. So it should be able nought to keep you above the poverty line.

    If you want more money, get qualified and get a better job.


  • #13
    eeguy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,399 ✭✭✭eeguy


    Alpha_zero wrote: »
    Yet plenty do. How much you earn an hour?

    Dunno. 1k a week before tax, 700 after give or take.
    I spent years on min wage working 20 hours a week when i was in college. I don't want to go back to it.


  • #14
    Alpha_zero
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 907 ✭✭✭Alpha_zero


    eeguy wrote: »
    Depends how you define cost of living. Minimum wage is minimum. So it should be able nought to keep you above the poverty line.

    If you want more money, get qualified and get a better job.

    make Ireland great again


  • #15
    Elemonator
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,270 ✭✭✭Elemonator


    It is true that the minimum wage has not increased in comparison with the cost living but I don't think its there to support families. Wages always reflect the skill level, not workload. The minimum wage only really applies to unskilled jobs. Anyone can do the job and there will be always be someone there willing to work for that money.

    In my opinion, with the amount of opportunity there is in this country, hardly anyone bar students or part time workers should be working for the minimum wage anyway. Skill acquisition and working hard makes anyone get to the top. I know it seems naive of me, but I have experienced this myself. Of course your situation is different OP, but I'm taking a general view.

    As someone put it above, you will always think it should be more when you are getting it. People will always think they are worth more, its the human condition.

    Good luck in your future family circumstances OP :)


  • #16
    Cupatae
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,915 ✭✭✭Cupatae


    eeguy wrote: »
    Depends how you define cost of living. Minimum wage is minimum. So it should be able nought to keep you above the poverty line.

    If you want more money, get qualified and get a better job.

    But like there isnt enough of them jobs going around so the reality of it is, someones gonna have to carry the can and stay in the minimum wage job long term.

    I dont think its right for someone to do x2 work of alot of high paid jobs and be paid just enough to stay above the poverty line. im not saying they should be paid top bucks but i think the way it is now is abit low to be fair.


  • #17
    Alpha_zero
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 907 ✭✭✭Alpha_zero


    eeguy wrote: »
    Dunno. 1k a week before tax, 700 after give or take.
    I spent years on min wage working 20 hours a week when i was in college. I don't want to go back to it.

    Me too


  • #18
    Alpha_zero
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 907 ✭✭✭Alpha_zero


    Cupatae wrote: »
    But like there isnt enough of them jobs going around so the reality of it is, someones gonna have to carry the can and stay in the minimum wage job long term.

    I dont think its right for someone to do x2 work of alot of high paid jobs and be paid just enough to stay above the poverty line. im not saying they should be paid top bucks but i think the way it is now is abit low to be fair.

    Were you never told that life isn't fair.


  • #19
    eeguy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,399 ✭✭✭eeguy


    Cupatae wrote: »
    But like there isnt enough of them jobs going around so the reality of it is, someones gonna have to carry the can and stay in the minimum wage job long term.

    I dont think its right for someone to do x2 work of alot of high paid jobs and be paid just enough to stay above the poverty line.
    Yep, but those people usually choose to do it, either because they're happy in the job, in circumstances where they may have other commitments or they don't want to pursue further training or education.

    If you want to move up the ladder you'll find a way to do it.


  • #20
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Cupatae wrote: »
    No but do you think the minimum wage/cost of living are balanced correctly as it stands?

    I saw life pre minimum wage. The minimum wages at least guarantees a level of payment. It is set relatively high in Ireland - even when our cost of living is taken into account. Our taxation system also gives considerable latitude to those on minimum wage, while many countries do not have this.

    The problem with increasing minimum wage is that, in fairness, those earning above it will want retrospection. Even when minimum wage came in people doing lesser jobs than others in companies got a rise that brought them up to the wage of others in other roles.


  • #21
    Outlaw Pete
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,423 ✭✭✭✭Outlaw Pete


    Ah it's only a joke for women tbf

    If you're a man all you have to do is send your first payslip to the following address and you will immediately receive 25% more per week.

    Patriarchy Headquarters, Male Privilege Dept, Misogyny House, Co. Leitrim.


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  • #22
    Permabear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 38,989 ✭✭✭✭Permabear


    This post has been deleted.


  • #23
    eeguy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,399 ✭✭✭eeguy


    Permabear wrote: »
    This post had been deleted.

    Because then it's three or four times ;)


  • #24
    scamalert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,732 ✭✭✭scamalert


    eeguy wrote: »
    No one is meant to live on minimum wage. It's a starting point for you to go onto better paid positions.

    You're just doing life backwards.
    yeah tell that to the most of the world who live on a few $ per day then.its this perception that one starts at the bottom and only goes up,when in reality if it was the case everyone would be millionaires according to your schedule,but life doesnt work that way,some work all their lives for that minimum wage,other's land in high positions and do f all and make more per day then some in years.

    That said minimum wage isnt that bad in Ireland compared to many other countries,but if one wants house,new car then sure enough it wont happen on that wage,thus either up-skill or get used to it,since fair doesn't exist anywhere.


  • #25
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    It's not too far back that there was no minimum wage. It's usually seen as a starting wage. It's up to you to position yourself that you don't stay on minimum wage forever. Night classes etc


  • #26
    eeguy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,399 ✭✭✭eeguy


    scamalert wrote: »
    yeah tell that to the most of the world who live on a few $ per day then.its this perception that one starts at the bottom and only goes up,when in reality if it was the case everyone would be millionaires according to your schedule,but life doesnt work that way,some work all their lives for that minimum wage,other's land in high positions and do f all and make more per day then some in years.

    That said minimum wage isnt that bad in Ireland compared to many other countries,but if one wants house,new car then sure enough it wont happen on that wage,thus either up-skill or get used to it,since fair doesn't exist anywhere.
    You're born, you take ****. You get out in the world, you take more ****. You climb a little higher, you take less ****. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what **** even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.


  • #27
    Alpha_zero
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 907 ✭✭✭Alpha_zero


    scamalert wrote: »
    yeah tell that to the most of the world who live on a few $ per day then.its this perception that one starts at the bottom and only goes up,when in reality if it was the case everyone would be millionaires according to your schedule,but life doesnt work that way,some work all their lives for that minimum wage,other's land in high positions and do f all and make more per day then some in years.

    That said minimum wage isnt that bad in Ireland compared to many other countries,but if one wants house,new car then sure enough it wont happen on that wage,thus either up-skill or get used to it,since fair doesn't exist anywhere.

    Upskilling doesn't guarantee any better pay, plenty of educated people on minimum wage.


  • #28
    Cupatae
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,915 ✭✭✭Cupatae


    Alpha_zero wrote: »
    Upskilling doesn't guarantee any better pay, plenty of educated people on minimum wage.

    To be fair education ie college is almost the norm at this stage, everyone and there grandmother has a degree in something or another its becoming common so ull see more and more educated people on minimum wage, education isnt the filter it once was i think


  • #29
    Mirror game
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 82 ✭✭Mirror game


    For too long! the poor have been getting richer and rich have been getting poorer, now's the time for a revolution.
    Over the last 150 years the rights of the rich have been completely eroded and their number are becoming fewer and fewer.
    It's time for the rich to get out onto the streets march on the dail and stand up for what is right.


  • #30
    eeguy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,399 ✭✭✭eeguy


    Cupatae wrote: »
    To be fair education ie college is almost the norm at this stage, everyone and there grandmother has a degree in something or another its becoming common so ull see more and more educated people on minimum wage, education isnt the filter it once was i think

    Education is still the only filter. Just the min standard has risen. In the 80s you'd be grand with just the leaving. Now you need a masters to distinguish yourself from the rest.

    Still, the govt have plenty of free courses for the unemployed. If min wage work gets you down I'd recommend finding a course that'll land you a better job and signing on. You'll be better off in the long run.


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  • #31
    minikin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,977 ✭✭✭minikin


    Does your role generate value for the business or is it just a necessary function that's thought of as an overhead? Does it require specialist skills that require a lot of education and experience?

    If the answer is no to these questions then you are probably being paid a fair rate.


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