The Quality of Life of Minimum Wage Workers Essay Example

Many individuals obtain minimum wage jobs as sources of income to support themselves as well as their families. These jobs are seen as quick sources of income requiring limited specialized expertise as most training and qualifications are given on the job. However, minimum wage workers are subject to extreme working conditions with little compensation. These jobs do not provide adequate access to what many wage workers consider “luxuries” such as proper healthcare, insurance, and career expansion opportunities; ultimately, impacting the living conditions of these minimum-wage workers. To ameliorate the lives of minimum wage workers, local legislators should provide these workers with the same systems and services that their white-collar counterparts do. 

Currently, minimum wage employees either do not receive proper health care or do not receive sufficient pay to afford proper healthcare; providing them with access to healthcare and medical services should be a top priority. With the physically and mentally demanding nature of their jobs, these workers are at constant risk of injuries, illnesses, and medical conditions. To give an example, in the book Nickel and Dimed, Ehrenreich highlights the stories of many individuals who lack access to healthcare. One such case is the story of minimum-wage-worker Gail who was “supposed to be on the company health plan by now, but they [her employers] claim to have lost her application form…(Ehrenreich 27). She then continues to note that this has prevented Gail from being able to take her estrogen pills. This story, along with thousands of similar ones calls attention to the current healthcare crisis. As such, legislators should urge companies themselves to provide their employees with affordable and quality healthcare. According to Harvard Business Review, healthcare should include the “delivery of comprehensive primary care, psychiatry and other forms of mental health therapy, and…health services to manage diabetes and chronic conditions (1).” Implementing new systems with greater access to physical and mental health resources will ultimately improve the living conditions of many as it will enhance their health and well-being, thus allowing them to work longer and make more money. Recent times, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have caused workers to take a mental toll. Many suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Access to therapists and psychiatrists would help provide support for individuals feeling unsure how to cope mentally. Both physical and mental health resources are crucial, chiefly, during a global pandemic. While many see the benefits in employee healthcare, others, such as employers, believe it is too costly and will therefore hurt the company. However, they fail to realize that when employees are in proper health, it increases their productivity at work while reducing absenteeism and turnover and creating better overall morale (2). In this way, employers may gain more income as employees can perform more work without any disruptions or sick days off.

Along with quality healthcare, legislators should consider advocating for better access to education for employees. In many corporate jobs, employees receive a multitude of opportunities to further their education with various degrees and courses at their fingertips, free of charge. This enables them to improve their expertise in the field with more knowledge in the area. Thus, presenting them with an abundance of positions higher-up within the company. As they move up, they gain the opportunity to make more money. However, such opportunities are rarely if at all provided to minimum wage workers. But, if provided, many would gain the ability to take on more management or specialized roles within the company, yet again providing an avenue to make more money. Past studies of employers offering educational resources have shown promising results. For example, one such study by the Accenture and Lumina Foundation indicates that employees who participated in a tuition reimbursement program were 21 percent more likely to be promoted and saw a 40 percent higher wage increase over a three years (4). Additionally, with more education, minimum wage workers can choose to obtain jobs even in higher-paying companies with greater benefits. Yet, more educated employees continue to benefit the employer as well. For example, in a recently published report, figures indicate that covering the costs of employee education created longer employee retention, which decreased recruiting and training costs, as well as any losses in institutional knowledge (5).

Finally, the most efficient way to improve the quality of life of minimum wage workers is to simply increase the minimum wage. Currently, workers feel that their weekly income is not sufficient to sustain them. One such example provided by Ehrenreich is of a minimum wage worker Caroline who, despite having the income of her spouse as well, lives under very poor conditions. While her income is enough to put a roof over her head and provide her with food, her house is full of leaks and is situated in a dangerous environment, surrounded by drug dealers (Ehrenreich 131). Thus, to address this issue, the minimum wage should be increased. Many argue that a sudden increase in the minimum wage would only serve to hurt the economy with negative effects. So, individuals like Thomas Kochan, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, advocate for sudden jumps in the wage by small increments. For example, first federally increasing wages to $10, followed by $15, a few years down the road (6). Improving wages would tremendously improve the living conditions of workers by allowing them to make home repairs, afford childcare, pay for costly medical procedures, and even invest in leisurely activities, like their middle and high-class counterparts. Raising the minimum wage would once again provide benefits for more than just minimum-wage workers. One promising statistic indicates that a $2.55 increase in the minimum wage would increase the earnings of low-wage workers by $40 billion and result in a significant increase in GDP and employment (7). Thus, indicating that legislators should advocate for an increase in the minimum wage for the betterment of minimum wage workers, their employers, and the global and national communities.