By Hanah Cho
Nerd Wallet, May 28, 2015
Across the country, 29 states and the District of Columbia have a higher minimum wage than federal law requires. Now wage increases are being pushed in large cities as well. ...
NerdWallet asked some small-business owners how a higher minimum wage would affect their operations. ...
Gina Schaefer, co-owner of 10 Ace Hardware stores in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, also pays her employees above the minimum wage because it contributes to better customer service. The business also budgets for pay increases, she says.
Maryland and the District of Columbia have moved in recent years to increase their minimum wages.
Schaefer, a member of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, says higher labor costs have not prevented the business from expanding. “We would expect to see a positive impact on our bottom line because of increased consumer spending with minimum wage increases,” she says. ...