To think, minimum wage, minimum effort

[angelos02]

If you think all I am worth is the absolute legal minimum you can pay me then you will get the absolute minimum I can get away with. Common sense really.

[ChocolateTeacup]

Depends if you see it as a stepping stone to something better, and you want a good reference.

[missymarmite]

Yanbu. Few minimum wage jobs have future prospects IMHO. Working hard gets you nowhere in this society. A gift of the gab, brown nosing management and having a face that fits is they only way. Lots of lazy people rise the ladder while others slave away at the bottom whilst being ignored.

[Greenmug]

I get paid minimum wage and I work my arse off. I think it depends on your work ethic, I get paid to do a job and I do it well. But I love my job anyway and that's why I do it.

[ColaConkie]

I started off on minimum wage and I am now a manager. If you want to progress you will but that means putting in a bit more effort.

[southeastastra]

bit of a generalisation, i know lots of minimum wage and they work their arses off. seems the other way round to me, the more money you get paid the less you do

[Ragwort]

What a terrible attitude.

I receive barely above the minimum wage but I love my job, I get a huge amount of satisfaction and pride from doing a job really well. Within five days of starting I was offered opportunities for more involvement and responsibility - I wasn't offered more money but I was pleased that my efforts and initiative were recognised.

[Northernlurker]

And if that's your attitude then you've just demonstrated that all you're worth is the absolute minimum.

I've worked with several apprentices. Their wage is hideous but they all work hard because it's a stepping stone and they want to get on - which they do.

[ElleMcFearsome]

Jeez, my DDs on minimum wage for her age and I'd be having serious words with her if she said this to me.

[AgentProvocateur]

If you worked in my company with an attitude like that, you'd be out the door after three months with no chance if ever getting a decent reference.

[Birdsgottafly]

Just keep out of Care, or working with anyone Vulnerable

Whilst working in Care, I met people with your attitude and it's shit, for those working with you and those relying on you.

It's bad enough having to be served by people with that attitude.

So what is it that you have to be paid enough to do, put effort in, be pleasent, do your job properly, function at a reasonable level?

Are you 12?

[ThatBloodyWoman]

YANBU if it's just a wages on the table gig.

I've been poorly paid all my life and as a manual worker, I see no sense in working myself into an early grave.

If you will ultimately benefit from your labour then it's a whole different thing.

[WooWooOwl]

An attitude like that is only worth minimum wage, and of you stick to it, you have lost any change you ever had of increasing your earning potential.

[angelos02]

I'm not on minimum wage myself. I was thinking about threads in which people expect shop staff to go the extra mile. Why on earth would they. Also, due to the recession, many well qualified people are having to do minimum wage work to make ends meet.

[Birdsgottafly]

Oh and don't ever consider Volutary work.

[Only1scoop]

Hope it's not a job with vulnerable people or kids. That attitude would worry me....but so would employer paying minimum.

[Greenmug]

I work alongside several apprentices at the moment. The money is dire and some of them have exactly this work ethic and shuffle around looking bored while a couple of others are brilliant. They work hard, get involved, come to meetings etc. They will have fantastic references if needed, the others will not.

[missymarmite]

I just get fed up seeing friends if mine working their socks off year after year and getting nothing but grief and a measily pittance for it. I think you should work hard but only if there is a chance it will improve your lot or at least it is something you really enjoy. Otherwise you are just being a door mat.

[livelablove]

I think the attitude of the managers makes a big difference to staff motivation level. If you are valued and appreciated that goes a long way even if pay is low.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

This is not some noble quest imho.

Like with everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

Agree with Birdsgottafly, re: keeping out of care work though.

[angelos02]

I don't know how anyone that pays the minimum wage can sleep at night. It isn't a living wage.

[southeastastra]

unfortunately it is an employers market now and so many have no choice but to take the min wage. what would you suggest they do instead?

[Technical]

OP, the way you opened the thread has made people all cross, but I think he point you wanted to make is valid.

However, I think the main factor in how much effort people put in come from them, not what they are paid. How conscientious people are is something innate in the individual and the same person who goes the extra mile as a shop assistant will also be a hard working manager or volunteer. People who are inherently lazy will be so no matter what they are paid.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

I agree angelos.

If you can afford decent childcare, a holiday now and then, or a trip to the dentist, it affects your whole outlook on what you're getting out of bed for,I'm sure.

[Technical]

"I don't know how anyone that pays the minimum wage can sleep at night. It isn't a living wage." LOL, aren't most NMW jobs in the public sector which means we the tax payers are the employers? How much more tax do you want to pay so they can be paid more?

[missymarmite]

An attitude like that is only worth minimum wage, and of you stick to it, you have lost any change you ever had of increasing your earning potential.

That's all very well but there are too many jobs where extra effort gets you nowhere. Especially retail, care sector, etc. I've worked in those. I'm now a TA (8 years) and we don't get paid any more for extra effort, we dont get incremental pay for experience, and even though several of us did our hlta status there are no hlta jobs.