In the debate over Kansas’ minimum wage, it’s often noted that an estimated 19,000 Kansas wage workers earn less than the federal minimum wage law of $5.15.
Who are these workers who make the state minimum wage of $2.65 an hour or higher? Surprisingly, state officials have only the sketchiest clue.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have that information,” said Inayat Noormohmad, senior labor economist with the Kansas Department of Labor. The figure is an estimate based on federal data, he said. He did say it’s “not necessarily” correct to assume, as many do, that the group consists mainly of waitresses who also make tips.
And he said there probably are some adult full-time workers in Kansas who make less than $5.15 an hour.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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20 Comments
Daycare providers? If they’re only earning for one child, that would be less than minimum wage.
What is wrong with this picture? The legislature is all set to change a law, but has absolutely no clue who is going to be affected? Is blind to what businesses will be impacted? Hasn’t the first idea of what it will do to existing jobs?
Time to do a bit of research before blasting thru with a law change..
They are probably tipped workers. I don’t know of anybody else that would work for that. In fact where I live, nobody even works for the Federal minimum. Not even the illegals will work for that. Most of the fast food places here pay well in excess of min wage and my teenage girl starts at $7.75 an hour at Six Flags on March 5
Sure beats the 60 cents an hour I started at.
Course, gas could be gotten at 18 cents a gallon back then.
Think baby sitters and elder care workers.
“Sure beats the 60 cents an hour I started at.
Course, gas could be gotten at 18 cents a gallon back then.”
So, a little math. 3.333 gallons of gas per hour. At today’s $2.15/gal that works out to $7.17 per hour.
I know of 3 businesses in my town that pay only $5.15. One is a grocer, and the other 2 are fast food. Some of this info is heresay, but I applied at one of the fast food places and I was told- $5.15, and I’m not inexperienced or a high school kid. I know someone who recently worked at Sonic in Wichita, and they pay really low, as the car delivery people are allowed tips.
Daycare providers who care for kids out of their home are not covered by this legislation. In fact, they are a business unto themselves, and they can set their charges as high or as low as they choose.
Take a look at this:
http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm
If you were someone looking for a place to move and work, what would you think?
To be fair, Kansas minimum wage of $265 is only for certain jobs. The statement, if you click on Kansas on the map (above link) says:
“The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.”
Here’s the explanation:Minimum Wage and Overtime Premium Pay Standards Applicable toNonsupervisory NONFARM Private Sector EmploymentUnder State and Federal LawsJanuary 1, 2007
A lot of jobs involving tips are set up as paying 2.55 or whatever per hour with the rest listed as tips to bring them up to the min.
I used to live in Houston and even the big high dollar hotels and clubs only paid the wait staff 2.35 PLUS. Their tips were assumed to bring in the rest. Which in a big city they do to the tune of around 200 bucks a night, but its still an iffy thing.
You’re supposed to tip the carhops at Sonic????
I thought they got paid as much as any other fastfood chain?
“You’re supposed to tip the carhops at Sonic????
I thought they got paid as much as any other fastfood chain?”
I thought the same thing when I first moved here (came from a location without Sonic) and finally asked a carhop one night months after I first started eating there and was told that they take tips. I felt so guilty for how many I had screwed out of a tip that I gave that girl like a $5 tip just for bringing me a drink. What really sucks is now I can only go there when I have some kind of cash (which is very rare) because there isn’t an option to put a tip on your card if that’s how you pay.
Tip at Sonic? Bah. I’ll tip them at the same time I start tipping the girl behind the counter at McDonalds. So, never.
I didn’t know that about Sonic. I have never tipped them.
My X Wife worked at Sonic for a while, and yea, many people didnt know about tipping at Sonic.
Personally I think its idiotic that they dont pay their people more because of how expensive thier food is. Thier food is the most expensive of all of the major fast food chains.
I still dont tip unless its a really large order or im on a date (to make me look good).
Tony,You take your dates to Sonic???
My first job was as a Sonic carhop. Tips are definitely allowed and appreciated, especially in bad weather, or if it’s a large order.
Everybody, as a teenager, took a date to Sonic or some other drive in burger joint. On my side of town it was Sandy’s at Douglas and Grove (later Hardees and now a tax place last I checked)
The idea that an employer doesn’t have to pay his help because his customers might is absurd to say the least! They should get at least minimum wage and tips, if any, should be on top of that.
“Everybody, as a teenager, took a date to Sonic or some other drive in burger joint.”
The difference here is that Tony seems to be talking in current time not past and he is at least old enough to have school-age children. Charming fella, sounds like just the sort of guy I’ve been looking for… Actually, Sonic wouldn’t be that bad on a date, just not for a first date or anniversary.