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Nerd Wallet: Small Businesses Divided on Cities Upping Minimum Wage

By Hanah Cho
Nerd Wallet, May 28, 2015

Across the country, 29 states and the District of Columbia have a higher minimum wage than federal law requires. Now wage increases are being pushed in large cities as well. ...

NerdWallet asked some small-business owners how a higher minimum wage would affect their operations. ...

Gina Schaefer, co-owner of 10 Ace Hardware stores in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, also pays her employees above the minimum wage because it contributes to better customer service. The business also budgets for pay increases, she says.

Maryland...

The Tennessean: St. Thomas minimum wage to beat federal by nearly $4

By Holly Fletcher
The Tennessean, May 26, 2015

Ascension Health, which owns Saint Thomas Health, is increasing its system-wide minimum wage to $11 an hour in July, boosting wages for several hundred Tennesseans. The July 5 increase will raise hourly wages for about 10,500 people across the country, including 521 who work for Saint Thomas Health in Tennessee. Previously, the minimum wage varied at Ascension's properties, but with the change, it will be the same across the system. The federal minimum wage, which is applicable in Tennessee, is $7.25 an hour.

Tennessee led the nation...

Tribune de Genève: Los Angeles accroît son salaire minimum

Etats-Unis: La décision de la cité américaine, qui porte son SMIC à 15 dollars par heure, fait couler l’encre outre-Atlantique

Par Jean-Cosme Delaloy
Tribune de Genève, May 25, 2015

L’avenir s’est éclairci pour Mary la semaine dernière. La ville de Los Angeles a annoncé qu’elle augmenterait d’ici à 2020 à quinze dollars par heure le salaire minimum pour les travailleurs comme Mary, ce qui correspond à une augmentation progressive de six dollars par heure sur cinq ans. ...

A la fin du mois dernier, la Sénatrice démocrate Patty Murray a néanmoins introduit un nouveau projet de...

CNBC: Los Angeles raises minimum wage to $15. Which city is next?

By Kate Rogers
CNBC, May 20, 2015

As Los Angeles moves to become the largest city to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour from $9 an hour over the next five years, a key question is which other large cities might follow suit and hike pay. Los Angeles joins other cities including Seattle, San Francisco and Chicago that have moved independently to raise wages beyond the current, federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

The shift in Los Angeles will now put pressure on other big cities including New York and Washington, D.C...

USA Today: Will raising pay and 86-ing tips fix the restaurant industry?

By Melissa Pandika, OZY
USA Today, May 18, 2015

... The restaurant industry may finally be 86-ing low wages and long, grueling shifts. Businesses have begun replacing the hot-blooded chef screaming from an office to a mentor working on the line, offering above-minimum-wage pay and even an ownership stake. More dishwashers and line cooks participate in financial-planning meetings. And some places have even abolished tips — to guarantee a livable base wage.

At Zingerman's, everyone — from the CFO to dishwashers — participates in a weekly "financial huddle."

As foodie culture grows, diners' definition of...

CNBC: Facebook enters the minimum wage fight

By Kate Rogers
CNBC, May 13, 2015

Workplace benefits at Silicon Valley's biggest names including Google and Apple are the stuff of legend. Now tech powerhouse Facebook is entering the minimum wage fight, implementing new standards on benefits for its contractors and vendors. Vendors or contractors in the U.S.who do a "substantial amount of work" with the social media company will be required to pay their workers at least $15 an hour. Other requirements include offering at least 15 paid days off for vacation, sick pay and holidays. Additionally, individuals who do not currently receive...

Retail Dive: Wage increases bring retailers positive PR—sometimes

By Ian P. Murphy
Retail Dive, May 13, 2015

Controversy over raising the minimum wage has been brewing anew for a couple of years. ... Multiple polls say that 70% to 80% of Americans support an increase to the minimum wage. And three out of five (61%) small-business owners with employees support the proposed Fair Minimum Wage Act, which would raise the national minimum from $7.25 to $10.10 in three phases, says a survey from the American Sustainable Business Council and Business for a Fair Minimum Wage.

The pressure—particularly the “Fight for $15” push for...