Minimum wage changes have lessons for youth
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on August 29, 2019.
collingallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant The combination of Labour Day, back-to-school and new changes to minimum wage should provide a teachable moment for young people in the workforce and indeed all of us. One of the many and lengthy politicized issues in Alberta this summer and the past few years has been changes to minimum wage. Now the new United Conservative government has brought in a differentiated wage for those under 18. It’s $2 fewer per hour than the standard $15, which itself was brought in by the previous government much to the dissatisfaction of the business community and conservative politicians. Technically, it’s called “job creation student wage,” but business lobby groups – that have clamoured for such before the New Democrats began the march to $15 – often call it a training wage. Others call it discriminatory. We’ve seen a mountain of press releases about the issue from business groups and labour groups. While it certainly an issue worthy of a public debate, the issue is also largely an individual one. The sooner high schoolers realize that, like any of us, its their own responsibility to manage their own career and earning potential, the better. No one is indentured to a workplace. No one is forced to work for $13-and-not-a-penny-more. And if your boss says so, and won’t listen to valid arguments otherwise, you should quit, or at least figure out how to get a better job, then do so. That’s not a clarion call for general strike, or ignorant of the fact that many people are in difficult positions, in need of whatever work or training experience they can get. It is, though, a simple restating of how the labour market should be working, and the new regulations should signal loud and clear that young workers need to be increasingly self-interested and self-reliant. In reality the changes will largely cap wages for young people. It’ll be tough for a teen to argue that he or she is worth more or needs more hours when that’s the going rate. And many will be stuck with it. A majority of entry level positions are limited, and the rate will also make adults less attractive employees compared to lower paid teenage counterparts. But, like anyone, young people should be considering their options. Good employers should be willing to listen and provide guidance to workers who want to improve their skills, add value to the company, and earn higher wages or the potential for promotion. Bad employers who don’t should be finding themselves short of staff. Most employers and managers who prize entrepreneurship should at the least respect an ambitious employee who knows what they’re worth and is willing to work for it. Talking with an employer can be complex and should be considered normal, but a degree in human resources shouldn’t be needed to determine one’s pay. The new regulation allows employers to pay $13 when the worker is under 18, enrolled in school and only for the first 28 hours of a work week when school is in session. Critics say this will hurt already graduated 17-year-olds, dropouts and those who need full-time hours to make ends meet. When school is out, such as Easter break, Christmas break or summer vacation, the 28-hour rule doesn’t apply, and it’s $13 the whole time. Will young workers check paycheques against their class calendar? We fear not, though they have the legal right, and should. But, again, that’s a personal decision that’s been left up to the individual to manage. If you don’t like your job, feel you aren’t properly compensated, and that you can do better or have greater opportunity elsewhere, then you should evaluate your options and pursue them. That’s not just the labour market, that’s life. (Collin Gallant is a News reporter. To comment on this and other editorials, go to https://www.medicinehatnews.com/opinions.) 29-28
