By Rick Poore and Holly Sklar
Omaha World Herald, Letter to the Editor, November 1, 2014. For Full Op-Ed Version in Columbus Telegram and other papers click here
Businesses depend on customers who can afford to buy what they are selling. When a growing number of workers can’t make ends meet because their wages have not kept up with the cost of living, it hurts businesses and it hurts Nebraska.
The minimum wage has been stuck since 2009 at $7.25 an hour, just $15,080 a year for full-time work. It’s common to see workers and their families at food banks or on public assistance. Nebraskans can change this by voting to approve Initiative 425, which would raise the state minimum wage to $9 by 2016.
Initiative 425 makes good business sense. In fact, 61 percent of small-business owners in the Midwest support raising the federal minimum wage to an even higher amount, $10.10, according to a recent poll.
With an increase, workers can buy more at local businesses. Employees are more productive and less stressed over how they will make rent or repair their car. Businesses see lower employee turnover and increased customer satisfaction. States that have increased their minimum wage have had better job growth than those that have not.
Rick Poore, Lincoln
Owner, DesignWear
Holly Sklar, Boston
CEO, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage
For Full Op-Ed Version in Columbus Telegram and other papers click here