New minimum wage will mean less checkouts open
B.C. minimum wage goes from the current $12.65 to $13.85 effective June 1. Franchise operations such as McDonalds, Wendy’s, A & W, Burger King, Dairy Queen, and Tim Hortons will suffer from the new pay rates.
Why? Owners of these franchise operations cannot increase their menu pricing because the menu pricing is set by the head office corporation outlets of these franchise operations. This pay raise comes directly out of the bottom line profit of these franchise owners. The only solution is to send some employees to the unemployment office, and reduce hours for other employees. Also some employees in these franchise operations are already paid higher than minimum wage because of years worked. These employees will also have to be given a pay raise.
Some taxpayers voted for a change in government in the last B.C. provincial election, but the new B.C. NDP minority government does not have any business sense.
Also, all of us as customers to the retail sector will now just have to wait longer at the cash out counters because there will be less cash checkouts open because of the new minimum wage. The new B.C. government fails to realize that minimum wage pertains to small business. They also fail to realize that along with the new minimum wage, comes employer paid benefits which amount to 35 per cent. Add 35 per cent to the wage, this now makes the minimum wage $18.70 per hour, all coming out of the franchisee bottom line profit.
In closing, do not get frustrated when waiting in a line at a cash out counter, as it is not the problem of the retailers. The longer wait lines were created by the no business sense B.C. NDP minority government. Unbelievable!
Joe Sawchuk
Duncan