BFMW In the News

By Zahra Tayeb
Business Insider, Jul 11, 2021

Business owners say they're struggling to find staff. Not so the CEO of &pizza, a restaurant chain in Washington, DC, who claims that he's been bombarded with job applications.

Michael Lastoria told Insider that business was booming at the pizza chain's 51 locations and all were fully staffed. He said that the secret was paying staff a proper wage. ...

While opening 12 new locations this year, Lastoria said he'd received well over 100 applications for each job. "Our new locations are fully staffed and we plan to open another 15 by the end of the year," he said.

By Aarthi Swaminathan
Yahoo Finance, July 2, 2021

Minimum wage increases went into effect in several states on July 1 as states take it upon themselves to increase pay for low-wage workers to keep up with the growing cost of living. ...

Business owner: It's 'super important' to pay $15 an hour

For one business owner in Delaware, the move toward $15 an hour is a no-brainer.

"We've always paid $15 an hour here at the inn," Kristen Deptula, owner of the Canalside Inn in Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, told Yahoo Finance. She purchased the inn at the end of 2019. 

By Jeniffer Solis
Nevada Current, July 1, 2021

... Nevada businesses owner Paul Saginaw, co-owner of Saginaw’s Delicatessen in Las Vegas and a member of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, says he has not had trouble hiring, partly because of their $14 an hour starting pay.

“I think it makes good business sense,” Saginaw said. “It’s very short-sighted not to realize that.”

“Nevada’s 75-cents-a-year minimum wage increases benefit workers and businesses. Going higher than the scheduled $12 by 2024 minimum wage would be much better,” Saginaw said.

By Kate Ryan
WTOP News, July 1, 2021

Political leaders in Montgomery County, Maryland, joined with civic and labor groups to celebrate the $15 an hour minimum wage law that’s taken effect as of July 1. ...

Scott Nash, CEO of the MOM’s Organic Market grocery chain, supported the push for a $15 minimum wage. His firm, which has 1,300 employees, is headquartered in Montgomery County. Nash explained that he’s been paying the $15 hourly rate and other grocers lost employees to his business.

“We believe that a higher minimum wage makes for a better employee because it reduces stress,” he added.

Op-Ed By Ryan Peters
Delaware State News, June 26, 2021

Delaware will be raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. As a small-business owner, I’m all for it. ...

Read more

By Lorie Konish
CNBC, June 24 2021

When Kristen Deptula and her husband bought the Canalside Inn in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, in October 2019, they had no idea the coming summer season at the shore town would mostly be a bust due to Covid-19.

The innkeepers were able to access federal funding through the Paycheck Protection Program to help keep them going.

Deptula also credits another decision — paying their staff a $15 per hour minimum wage — with helping the business transition through the pandemic. ...

‘Vital tool’ for recovery

groups like Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a network of business organizations, owners and executives, applaud the Delaware decision.

By Melissa Steele
Cape Gazette, June 22, 2021

Increasing Delaware's minimum wage to $15 an hour is just a signature away from becoming law after passing the House on June 17. ...

Rehoboth Beach business owner Ryan Peters of RISE Fitness + Adventure said paying a $15 minimum wage is good business. “Employees have more pride in their work and are more invested in our company. We save money on costly turnover, and our dedicated staff keep our customers coming back,” he said in a statement released by Business for a Fair Minimum Wage.

Yahoo Finance, June 21, 2021

RAYGUN Owner Mike Draper and Soul Slice CEO Karter Louis join Yahoo Finance Live to discuss how the labor crunch is impacting small businesses - and how they are succeeding in hiring and retention.

WATCH and see transcript

By Cris Barrish
WHYY (NPR), June 18, 2021

Three years ago, Delaware lawmakers argued until morning on the final day of the General Assembly session before grudgingly approving an two-step increase in the minimum wage to $9.25. What a difference three years makes. ...

Alissa Barron-Menza of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage says the increases are overdue in Delaware.

“This is about helping ensure that not only workers are earning a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, but that businesses have the customers who can afford their products and services,’’ she said. “Fair pay is also good business.”

Several business owners in Barron-Menza’s group applauded the General Assembly’s action.

By Jacob Owens
Delaware Business Times, June 18, 2021

DOVER – The push to increase Delaware’s hourly minimum wage to $15 by 2025 cleared the state House of Representatives on Thursday and now heads to Gov. John Carney for his consideration. ...

Some Delaware small businesses have come out in support of the bill.

Canalside Inn owner Kristen Deptula said she has paid her employees $15 an hour since buying the Rehoboth Beach hotel in 2019.

Op-Ed By Kristen Deptula, Owner, Canalside Inn

... Raising Delaware’s minimum wage to $15 will promote a more robust economic recovery from the pandemic for both working people and businesses. ....

By Matt Bittle
Delaware State News, June 17, 2021

DOVER — Legislation to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 is now before Gov. John Carney. ... Senate Bill 15 would start by increasing the wage to $10.50 in 2022, followed by $11.75 in 2023 and $13.25 in 2024 before hitting $15 in 2025. ...

“Raising Delaware’s minimum wage will boost the economy and help businesses and communities thrive,” Alissa Barron-Menza, vice president of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, said in a statement. “Minimum wage increases go right back into the economy as workers can afford to buy more at local businesses. And businesses raising wages will benefit from lower employee turnover and increased productivity and customer satisfaction.”

Op-Ed By Ryan Peters, Owner, RISE Fitness + Adventure

... We have always paid above the minimum wage because we know that fair pay matters a lot in the success of our business and the lives of our employees. ....

By Olivia Montes
Delaware State News, June 17, 2021

Small businesses across the First State are preparing for the financial boost of the summer season — but business owner Courtney Sunborn is particularly excited about the passage of legislation to increase minimum wage.

“I really enjoy speaking on behalf of it as a small-business owner because it has proven to be an extremely valuable way of doing business for me,” said Ms. Sunborn, owner and founder of the natural cleaning service Ecolistic Cleaning in Lewes.

By DJ McAneny
WDEL News Radio, June 17, 2021

"It all just makes a difference in the wellbeing of people, and that changes who they are and what they can be for you," said Sarah Titus, co-owner of Wilmington's The Comic Book Shop. "I don't know. People are worth it."

Slated to appear before the state House Thursday, June 17, 2021, is Senate Bill 15, and act to gradually increase Delaware's minimum wage to $15 by 2025.  ...

But a small business owner like Titus, who already pays her employees above minimum wage, said owners fearful of the move aren't looking at the greater picture. Not only is it attainable, she said, but the results create a more lucrative environment for everyone.