National Minimum Wage Increase

[good96]

With the NMW increase from April 2025 rising to £12.21 - for someone who works 40 hours a week - that is £25,400!

Can see so many businesses struggling/restructuring/redundancies after this!

@hamsterchump
"So why on earth do you object to a MW increase? If employers are forced to pay more then more people will no longer need to be subsidised with tax credits paid by net contributors like yourself! Why are you ok with propping up failing businesses who can't afford to pay their staff a living wage out of your own pocket?"

I don't think I did say I was opposed to THE NMW rise did I?

I am opposed to the derision and belittling of very real concerns being raised by business owners. I disapprove of the rude and disrespectful way those posters have been treated and the glee with which people are calling their businesses failing and telling them to get off MN to fix it.

I also disprove of the 'we're trapped in poverty and can't do anything whereas you are from privilege and know nothing' attitude.

I think that raising the NMW at this time will cause as many problems as it solves.

It’s such a funny idea that businesses should just never complain or really even comment on tax rises that cost them money - and in fact if they do so, they’re suddenly “failing”. Yet when energy costs and food prices suddenly started rising a couple of years ago and people were struggling I heard only sympathy, not “well you should have budgeted for that, I guess you’re a failing family if you can’t absorb every price rise thrown your way”

Also, most owners on here aren’t necessarily commenting on their own business, but they have an understanding of the effects of cost rises to the economy in general.

Yet we hear the usual “we’re the ones doing all the work”. Honestly - you have no idea and it’s so funny to hear employees saying that when they get to just go home and not think about work.

It's a very sad, but wholly realistic, indictment of what's going to happen to hundreds if not thousands of small businesses after today's announcements.

Unfortunately the majority of people on this thread don't seem to care though because you are an employer and not an employee. If only they considered the sacrifices some small business owners make which are to the detriment of their own wellbeing and mental health.

So you're all shocked that workers don't really care about their employers' problems when those same employers demonstrate over and over that they don't care one jot for their workers and whether thyrbcan afford to live? You must be shocked very often.

I'm sorry that you didn't realise that running a business and the increased re was you expected based on that would include thinking about it and taking it home with you.

They can moan on all they want, but I'd they're saying this increase will finish them off which many many are on here then yes they're failing.

Also where did you hear only sympathy? I heard a lot of "you should just get a better job" and "you shouldn't have had children if you couldn't afford them". Maybe you didn't pay much attention because it didn't affect you until now. Oh well too bad, so sad.

Remember no one is ever really very far from being an employee. These ex employers will probably see the benefit of wage increases and tightened labour laws once they are back in the labour force and the shoe is on the other foot.

@hamsterchump

"So you're all shocked that workers don't really care about their employers' problems when those same employers demonstrate over and over that they don't care one jot for their workers and whether thyrbcan afford to live? You must be shocked very often."

Erm, I didn't say I was shocked either?! Are you ok? Are you struggling to read? Or to process what people are writing?

Whatever the issue is I can't engage with you because you keep making up what I have said.

You are very strange, I can understand you being embarrassed by what you've said but to just deny it when we can all go back and read it is quite odd. Bye then.

The thing is @hamsterchump this doesnt really affect my business, or me. We have the ability to raise prices to counteract any increases and cut costs if we need to.
However, I’m not so shortsighted to say “well it doesn’t affect me so it doesn’t matter” because I can see that companies with much tighter margins will suffer, will lay people off, possibly close etc, and I can see that for a business owner and their employees, that’s a very hard thing to have to do. Most of us owners have the ability to see the bigger picture and our part in it, instead of just blindly thinking that raising taxes on businesses doesn’t matter because either it will come out of the owners’ pocket or the business will go under.

I’m sorry that you aren’t able to see that bigger picture and I assume you have a boss who doesn’t value you, hence the vitriol against all business owners, even the ones you don’t know.

It doesn't really affect me either, this will blow your mind but I too can see past the end of my nose. I just think the concerns of those lowest paid who are struggling to feed and house themselves are more important than the moans of some employers like the ones on where who like to boast of turning over millions a year. I find that kind of grizzling disgusting.

Interesting watching the press coverage unfold and confirm my original opinion that it's a weird budget that will do nothing to improve growth, and the money for schools and the NHS is just a drop in the ocean.

I just hope that Wes Streeting finally gets to grips with the waste in the NHS and does attempt some kind of reform
Can but hope

Where who and what is confirming that assumption? You are aware it’s a long term strategy to bring back stability aren’t you?

@hamsterchump

"You are very strange, I can understand you being embarrassed by what you've said but to just deny it when we can all go back and read it is quite odd. Bye then."

Im strange and I'm odd? Ok. 🙄

Where did I say I was shocked?
Where did I say I opposed the NMW rise?

I'm happy to wait as long as it takes for you to find the quote or admit you are wrong.

Unlikely to improve growth for 5 years according to the OBR.

Yes you are quite strange and odd.

So you're in favour of the rise in MW now? I am glad to hear it dear, hope it sticks.

Ooh that's interesting, what makes you think so?

Because s/he ignores what I've said and replies with something unconnected to what I stated.

How have I ignored what you've said? Do you always think that posters who disagree with you must be bots? Fascinating. So what kind of bot am I? What's my purpose?

@hamsterchump

At 19.16 you referred to me opposing the NMW.

At 19.58 you stated I was shocked.

I've said neither of those things; you've ignored that you are wrong but refuse to engage with that.

There will always be MW workers for numerous reasons. It doesn't mean you don't have any skills.

So you are in support of the rise in MW? You implied that you were not so if you actually are and misspoke or now are then I am delighted.

You seemed shocked because you were scandalised that anyone should object to business owners who profess to turn over millions a year moaning and bleating that anyone should dare to hope to earn a living wage.

I'm glad you've said this. It's presumptuous to suggest this and quite judgey!