Hi, I'm a minimum-wage worker. I make $7.25 per every hour I work, and that is before taxes come out. On average, I work 12 hours a week or less, but even the workers that work every hour possible only get 15.
I mention all of this because there seems to be a misunderstanding when "minimum-wage" is brought up. First, people in other states seem to complain that minimum wage is fine, not citing the fact that states like Oregon already have their base wage at $9.00, roughly 20% more than the federal minimum (we could also cite cost of living and whatnot, but I'm not an economics major, so I'm not discussing that stuff...).
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In addition to this, I constantly see people saying things about "burger-flipping" being minimum wage for a reason, that it's an entry level job, that people should strive for better than that, that "If you can't get my order right, you don't deserve better."
Hi, I'm a minimum-wage worker and let me tell you about my job.
Three days a week during the school year (because that is what works with my class schedule), I play the part of Mother, babysitter, teacher, nurse, maid, coach, and friend. I do NOT flip burgers.
Currently, my duties are to supervise children between the ages of 5 and 7 from the time I go to work until the last child leaves (hopefully around 6 pm). Sure, the work is 4 hours maximum, and I truly love it, but it definitely is not "something easy like flipping a burger" or whatever other ignorant statements people make about minimum-wage jobs.
On a slow day, I have 20 children to watch once they're divided into groups.
~ Prior to groups, I walk around and help any number of kids at any age with their homework for about an hour.
~ Prior to the kids coming in the building, I make sure that everything is clean and organised, and that I am ready for the day. This means having a schedule, planned activities, and ensuring that any worksheets I need are printed prior to the first busload of children coming in.
~ I'm expected during the week to direct children in learning hygiene, health, respect, sportsmanship, citizenship, good work ethic, as well as any tasks that they may be struggling with at school.
~ I clean noses, fix boo-boos, and make ice packs
~ I break up fights
~ I make sure to talk with the parents of my kids to ensure that every situation is understood and the parents can stay involved even if they work.
~ I provide tech support when computers go haywire and kids can't do their reading homework without them (true story)
~ I mop, wipe tables, sweep, clean bathrooms, and push chairs under when my kids forget.
~ I'm the one that hugs them when they're crying or hurt during those 4 hours.
~ One day, I spent 10 minutes searching for a baby tooth because one of my kids was hysterical that she lost it.
~ I know that Carson likes books, Aaliyah just lost her first baby tooth, Josh loves "Simon Says", and that An-Trayvion is a future artist; Leslie thinks that Karate is super cool, AJ has had so many concussions that he has a permanent bump on his head, and Georgia's favorite color is pink.
~ During the summer, I do all of this and more for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week
I do all of this, with little thanks, and then I come home with sore feet and a full heart to see people, including my own family, questioning if I deserve the pay I get or not.
Remember this when you're talking about living wage.
