Mixed Reactions on Fast Food Chain Proposed Wage Increase

McDonald's is the biggest fast food chain in the world with thousands of employees. They have proposed to increase the base rate of pay in their fast food restaurants to $15/hr. I have seen a multitude of reactions to this proposed wage increase on social media.

Alot of people on social media are saying that fast food workers should not receive such a wage increase comparing flippin burgers to the job of let's say a newly licensed practical nurse fresh out of nursing school. How can flippin a burger compare to taking care of your loved one?

Listen, if McDonalds can afford to pay their employees that rate of pay, why not?! I would of surely taken that job while in school for that rate of pay. But at what cost does this come? Will these employees only be part time? Will they have health care benefits?

The Department of Labor acknowledges noone can afford to feed their family on a minimum wage salary. Let's face it, not everyone is a doctor or lawyer, or has the educational background to make a high end salary. These days families are struggling o make ends meet, even on a dual salary income. Even friends of mine with a college degree have trouble finding jobs in their careers for that amount while paying off thousands in student loans.

I found the article in The Saratogian by local news anchor John Gray interesting as well as he brought up several points.

I am all for this increase in minimum wage at McDonald's restaurants. Hey I only made $7.40/hr at my first job back in the dinosaur era. That's double! Where do I apply?!

The wage increase will not be seen by all fast food workers at the same time. Depending on where in NY state you live, according to this chart:

Outside of NYC

$9.75 on Dec. 31, 2015

$10.75 on Dec. 31, 2016

$11.75 on Dec. 31, 2017

$12.75 on Dec. 31, 2018

$13.75 on Dec. 31, 2019

$14.50 on Dec. 31, 2020

$15.00 on July 1, 2021

NYC

$10.50 on Dec. 31, 2015

$12.00 on Dec. 31, 2016