By Sara Swann
Salisbury Daily Times for Delmarva Now, Feb 21, 2019
... Democratic lawmakers in Maryland are pushing for a landmark minimum wage increase to $15 an hour by 2023. ... The reason for this latest push for a higher minimum wage, advocates say, is because $10.10 per hour doesn't go far enough to cover living expenses.
Bringing the rate up to $15 an hour would ... allow for additional spending, which would strengthen the economy, said Alissa Barron-Menza, vice president of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage.
"We want to see a minimum wage that allows people working full-time to not only meet the basics, but we want to strengthen business and strengthen the economy by putting more money in the hands of working people," Barron-Menza said.
Workers are also customers, Barron-Menza said, so if workers are paid more, then they will also spend more.
Paying lower-wage employees more money will also boost workplace morale and lower employee turnover rates, she said. This will benefit overall efficiency and lower costs associated with employee hiring and training.
Copyright 2019 Delmarva Now