Reply #102: "How much do you feel entry-level workers should pay?" [View All]

[Trekologer]

That is a good question. What is entry-level work worth?

I work for a unionized supermarket cooperative chain in New Jersey. Members of the cooperative range from single store "mom and pop" types to larger multi-store (> 15) companies, all operating under the same store name and all under the same collective-baraganing agreement. This market is probablly the most competitive in the country and Wal-Mart hasn't had a hold on the area (yet--they are moving in very agressively). But guess what? We not only pay more than Wal-Mart does but we offer full PAID health insurance to part time employees after they work for the company for 30 months, full time employees receive health insurance from day 1. What does Wal-Mart offer? Their employees, once qualified, can elect to join the insurance plan but they have to pay for themselves. Wal-Mart contributes nothing.

The problem with Wal-Mart is that when they drive their local competition out of business, there are no other jobs that pay more. And then Wal-Mart raises their prices. While there are some who takes these entry level jobs just to make some extra money on the side, there are quite a few (probablly a lot more than you think) who hold these jobs and are trying to support their family for a multitude of reasons (certainly including that being the only job they can find).

What do I think that entry level work is worth? I think that, regardless of the position, a person working 40 hours a week (a full time job) should be earning a livable wage which is at the very least at what is considered the poverty level.

By the way, Sam Walton would probablly be spinning in his grave if he knew what his company was like today.