If the minimum wage has caught up with me should I just look an easier job?

n1guy

RichardD1970 wrote: »

Aldi don't (AFAIK) have zero hrs contracts, they are usually contracts for 25 hrs per week with the chance to do more, deepening on need, up to 40 hrs I think.

My wife is a Stock Assistant (shelf stacker) and earns £8.40 ph, Store Assistants (who do the tills as well) earn more.

No offence to your wife, my wife does the same in a supermarket but I think its sad we've come to this situation, sure big national chains may well have given pay rises and rightly so as they can afford to do so but the small local employers haven't and we're at a stage now where some fairly skilled jobs are now minimum wage earning less than some menial jobs. There is simply no incentive now.

takman

n1guy wrote: »

No offence to your wife, my wife does the same in a supermarket but I think its sad we've come to this situation, sure big national chains may well have given pay rises and rightly so as they can afford to do so but the small local employers haven't and we're at a stage now where some fairly skilled jobs are now minimum wage earning less than some menial jobs. There is simply no incentive now.

But I bet you small local employer has still been increasing their prices each year in line with inflation. Your employer sounds pretty bad and I think your right to look for a new job. There is no excuse for not increasing your wages atleast in line with inflation each year and if they can't even do that then they are effectively reducing your pay.

If they are struggling then it's due to poor management and they shouldn't be compensating for it by effectively reducing your wages when you have been doing the same good job for the last 10 years.

TyreLever

takman wrote: »

But I bet you small local employer has still been increasing their prices each year in line with inflation. Your employer sounds pretty bad and I think your right to look for a new job. There is no excuse for not increasing your wages atleast in line with inflation each year and if they can't even do that then they are effectively reducing your pay.

If they are struggling then it's due to poor management and they shouldn't be compensating for it by effectively reducing your wages when you have been doing the same good job for the last 10 years.

Thats the thing with employers these days, they are cunnies. I am fortunate enough to be on just over £9 per hour for semi skilled job (I think a fork truck operator counts as semi skilled). However I do work weekends and nights for that privilege, which I am happy enough about. Last year I was offered a job on nights for the bare minimum wage and in much worse working conditions, I let that offer go even tho I was on JSA.
The way I see it, the more people that are willing to do awful tasks for ridiculously low pay, the more employers will exploit people. Unfortunately desperation is everywhere these days so its a goldmine for unscrupulous employers. I was thinkin of killing myself before I found a proper job.

DavidF

This is going to become a huge issue especially as the living wage takes hold. As we can see from the op skilled and even semi skilled people are now thinking hey hang about I don't get paid a penny more than if I was without any skill set.....It then comes down to how much they love the job.....take that away and employers will at some point have to increase this groups wages or they really are going to be trouble getting people to take on skilled or semi skilled roles.
Exactly the same is happening in the middle management roles where people are beginning to think hey im only getting five pence per hour for being responsible for 20 people.....Why would anyone want to do that job for effectively pennies per day more.
As an electrician I see some areas of the country advertising jobs for time served electricians for as low as £9 per hour. I just can't work out why anyone who had trained for 5 years to qualify would then want to sell their skills at what is effectively building site laborer rates. Nothing wrong with being a laborer just that I would rather do that for £9 per hour than do my own technical job for same.
**Got to say I am happy with my rates as a qualified electrician I am just pointing out that there are companies chancing their arm currently advertising jobs very close to what I would call the "Why should I bother rate"

silverwhistle

Some of this could explain the poor productivity of UK industry too.

My own experience as someone in receipt of a small pension is that the last summer school (teaching English) I did was great fun but exhausting and basically took all my time for 6/7 weeks during some of the best weather of the year. The following year I looked at doing a temporary receptionist role for the same organisation as I reckoned that on an hourly basis it was better paid. Teaching only pays for contact hours...

Now I content myself with occasional private tutoring and translations to pay for life's luxuries. I work from home, still lesson preparation but no tick-box bureaucracy or marking or meetings or commuting to work.

Like you I have every regard for labourers, ground workers and all - I worked on building sites when a student (mainly in site offices and canteen but..).. but it's something you can do from age 17/18.

daytona0

n1guy wrote: »

Yes I had been thinking about retraining, it's really my only viable long term option. The likes of retail would only be a temporary solution.

A temporary solution to what precisely?

The only reason I can see for you changing to retail work is if you consider it a potential PERMANENT solution! There are certainly opportunities to progress and climb up the ladder within retail.

But if your motivation is to get paid a better hourly rate so that you could go on to re-train elsewhere then that's a bit of a risk! Better staying put and doing something like a night course, or voluntary work etc.

Doshwaster

DavidF wrote: »

As an electrician I see some areas of the country advertising jobs for time served electricians for as low as £9 per hour. I just can't work out why anyone who had trained for 5 years to qualify would then want to sell their skills at what is effectively building site laborer rates. Nothing wrong with being a laborer just that I would rather do that for £9 per hour than do my own technical job for same.

I have several friends and family members who are qualified tradesmen and are making a good living but what they all have in common is that they work for themselves. Being employed may be good for training and getting experience but there doesn't seem to be any long term future in it.

RedfordML

"I enjoy the work..."

I would stick it out. Finding a job you enjoy is the issue for 80% of people.


Maybe see if there is room for ££ increase or maybe an extra hour or 2?

andygb

Undervalued wrote: »

Thomas Chippendale managed to make decent cabinets with rather less in the way of machine tools.......

Comparing cabinet making today, with a master cabinet maker (with very rich clientelle) in the 18th century is not at all helpful to the OP.

Doshwaster

Undervalued wrote: »

Thomas Chippendale managed to make decent cabinets with rather less in the way of machine tools.......

And also made extra money on the side stripping for middle aged women with his brothers.

That's the same guy, isn't it?