By Heesun Wee
CNBC, May 21, 2014

The national debate over whether to raise minimum wages has stirred interest in where American companies stand on the issue. That curiosity perhaps is most intensely targeted at feel-good companies, which pride themselves on progressive practices. Do those companies match their upbeat branding with living wages?

Whether it's because wages underscore values or boost staff retention and productivity, more big companies are dipping into the wage debate. Farmer-friendly Chipotle Mexican Grill says a hike to $10 an hour could be absorbed. Starbucks, committed to greener stores and ethical...

By Eric Morath
Wall Street Journal, May 20, 2014

Stymied by Congress on their minimum-wage push, low-wage workers and even Obama administration officials are pleading for U.S. companies to raise wages voluntarily. ... Pesident Barack Obama is singling out companies—from retailer Gap Inc. to Punch Neapolitan Pizza, a tiny Minnesota pizza joint—that committed to paying workers more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. …  Earlier this year, Mr. Obama visited a Maryland Costco store to highlight the retailer's starting wage of $11.50 an hour. ...

Gina Schaefer, the owner of nine Ace...

By Brian England
Policy Points, Triple Pundit, May 14, 2014

Recently I was asked, “Why do you support raising the minimum wage – aren’t all business people against it?” As a small business owner I care about running a profitable business. That means I also care about the local economy my business depends on. And most importantly, I understand that economies boom when more money is in the hands of those most likely to spend it — from the lowest-income earners buying essentials to a growing middle class with more disposable income.

Today’s eroded $7.25...

By Sarah Meehan
Baltimore Business Journal, May 5, 2014

It’s official. Maryland’s minimum wage will increase to $10.10 by 2018. Gov. Martin O’Malley on Monday signed a bill that will increase the minimum wage gradually over four years from $7.25. ...

Despite extra labor costs, some business owners, such as Amanda Rothschild, supported the increase. Rothschild owns Charmington’s cafe on North Howard Street, and she already pays her entry-level employees more than the minimum wage. That pays off because it leads to lower turnover and better employee performance, she said in a statement. ...

Read more...

By David Borris
Crain's Chicago Business, May 13, 2014

As a caterer, I do a lot of weddings. With another summer season approaching, I can almost hear the wedding bells chime. But when I hear big trade associations usurping the identity of small businesses like mine in order to argue against a minimum wage increase, a different kind of bell goes off in my head: alarm bells.

I own a 29-year-old catering business. I have 25 full-time and 80 part-time and seasonal employees. I pay a starting wage of $10 an hour. And you know what...

By Laura Layden
Naples Daily News, May 11, 2014

When it comes to hiking the minimum wage, some states aren’t waiting for the federal government to act. Three states recently agreed to increase their mandated hourly wage to $10.10 per hour. A proposal to do the same for virtually all workers in Florida went nowhere this legislative session, however. Federal legislation would raise wages to that amount in three steps, and index them to inflation. ...

Recent polls have shown strong public support for raising the minimum wage, which hasn’t increased since 2009. The federal minimum wage now...

By Robert Lang
WBAL News, May 5, 2014

Governor Martin O'Malley today signs the bill to boost the minimum wage.

The bill will increase the minimum wage gradually to $10.10-an-hour by July, 2018. ... Under the legislation, the minimum wage would increase from $7.25 to $8.25-an-hour in January.  Its would increase to $8.75-an hour, in July, 2015, $9.25-an hour in July, 2016, and $9.75-an-hour in July, 2017. ...

There are a group of business owners who supported the legislation that are also expected to attend the ceremony. ...

The House of Delegates first approved this bill...

By Rob Scott
Assocations Now, May 5, 2014

As a measure to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour was blocked in the Senate last week, associations on both sides of the debate continue to make their case for and against a minimum wage increase. ...

In a strong statement last week, the board of directors for nonprofit leadership group Independent Sector called on all nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to pledge to pay a “living wage” to all employees.

“[I]ndividuals should have the opportunity to earn a life-sustaining wage that enables them to...

By J.D. Harrison
Washington Post, April 30 2014

Small business owners are vehemently opposed to raising the minimum wage. Meanwhile, in other news, small business owners overwhelmingly favor raising the minimum wage.

Wait. What?

Depending on who you ask and which polls you trust, you can come away with a very different perspective on how an increase in the federal minimum wage would affect small firms. And with Congress and several states currently mulling legislation to raise the floor on wages, employers in towns across the country are lining up on either side of what has...

By Kent Hoover
Washington Business Journal, April 30. 2014

... [In remarks at the White House President Obama] noted that many businesses have decided to pay their workers more “because they know it’s good business.” Businesses with higher-paid employees face less turnover, and their workers are more productive, he said. Plus, their customers “see the difference.”

Small business owners who support raising the federal minimum wage make the same point.

“We raised our minimum wage to $10.10 without raising prices, knowing that employees who make ends meet stay longer and are more productive,” said Chris Sommers...

By Lisa Jennings
Nation's Restaurant News, April 30 2014

A key Senate vote on Wednesday blocked a bill that set out to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour — a result supported by restaurant industry associations including the National Restaurant Association and National Council of Chain Restaurants. ...

A coalition of business leaders that support Harkin’s bill say the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour — and not the proposed increase — is what is hurting businesses and the economy.

Chris Sommers, co-owner of Euclid Hospitality Group, which includes...

By Tom Wilemon
The Tennessean, April 30, 2014

The "Give America a Raise" bus arrived in Nashville and then left Tennessee as a bill to raise the minimum wage stalled in the U.S. Senate. The bill failed to get past a procedural roadblock, receiving 54 votes to go forward for debate when 60 were needed. Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker was the lone Republican voting to allow the bill to go forward.

"While I think the underlying policy is problematic, I think we should always debate ways to help improve the standard of living of Americans," Corker...

By Tom Troy
Toledo Blade, April 30, 2014

Local advocates of raising the federal minimum wage brought their bus tour to Toledo on Tuesday to press Congress to pass a three-year increase to $10.10 per hour. Several local speakers, including two South Toledo business owners, advocated for the rise as the way to help people out of poverty and motivate workers, and to spin off and benefit the economy. ...

Dave Schultz, president of Keystone Press Inc. on Broadway, said his family business has 10 employees and all are paid more than the minimum wage.

“If...

By Tim McNicholas
NBC24, WNWO, April 30, 2014

Senate Republicans have blocked a bill to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Forty-two Senators voted against the measure, including Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH). ...

Toledo business owner Dave Schultz called Sen. Portman and urged him to vote in favor of a minimum wage increase. He has ten employees who make at least $11 an hour. Ohio’s minimum wage is $7.95.

“I’m disappointed,” Schultz said after the vote. “I would hope that our Congress people would have the working families at mind when they’re voting...

By Barb Berggoetz
Indianapolis Star, April 28, 2014

A couple of local employers talked about how raising their workers' pay above the current minimum wage has attracted better-quality employees. Employees making low wages spoke about working two jobs and struggling to make ends meet. It was all part of a rally Monday to support an increase in the federal minimum wage. The rally was spurred by a stop on Monument Circle by a national bus tour organized by Americans United for Change. ...

Aaron Schaler, who has ownership rights for Pizza King in Indianapolis, said he decided to...