twt512 said:I'd like to see this thread provide some real assistance to either an employer or employee when determining a reasonable wage for this area.
Does anyone want to research a range of rates, based on type of employment and other factors, that can backed up by figures (cost of living index etc.)
We could provide someone with a valuable argument for asking $___/hour.
TWT,
I appreciate your concern...I sense you really want to find solutions to this problem--and it is a BIG problem. Believe me, I wish I could offer up a quick and easy solution, but I've looked at this problem from a number of different angles and it isn't an easy fix.
As long as people continue to throw money at developers for building more and more retail & condos which gobble up lower cost-of-living areas and require low-cost staff to run them, there are going to be problems.
The easiest solution (and the one I find most distasteful) is to build barracks in far-flung areas and ship in thousands of migrant workers from third world countries. I have nothing against migrant workers, but I fear the profits that can be generated from such a system could lead to the abuse of the poor folks shipped in to work. In that sense, the panhandle would operate more like a cruise ship.
On the other hand, the best solution, I feel, would be for the county to DEMAND developers build rental apartments as part of the deal to allow them to develop their upscale communities. And yes, the employers in the area will have to fork out "living wages" and the tourists and locals living in the local areas will have to pay. There's a price to pay for living in paradise.
What's really going to happen in the short-term is that the businesses are going to have to increase wages and treat their good employees well OR they are going to have to constantly hire and train new employees (which is more expensive than raising wages a couple bucks an hour) OR they are going to end up with sub-par employees, in which case it doesn't matter if Wolfgang Puck is in the kitchen--if the customers get cold food and attitude...the business will fold before long.
If you REALLY want to find answers, TWT, ask your question of the guy who's bussing your dishes or serving your drink across the bar next time you are out for the evening.