Is NLW Ageist?

[HairsprayBabe]

Just thinking about this and it really annoys me.

I no longer work in a minimum wage job, but when I did there were colleagues doing the exact same job as me, same duties, no extra responsibility. But because they were older they automatically earned more.

Can someone please explain to me how that is fair? Especially when I had been there longer than some older members of staff! It isn't like I was living at my parents house so had less outgoings than someone +25.

This is ageist right or AIBU?

Was it ever voted on? I thought NLW was just a cynical hijack of the Living Wage concept by George Osborne in a budget. Parliament vote on accepting the budget but even if they'd gone against convention and tried to vote it down, the government had a majority.
I don't think it was ever a manifesto pledge. Not that that has meant much recently.

shove Thanks... didn't realise I was asleep, if you RTFT you would see I DO vote... Not really sure what else I can do other than round up millennials in a van and force them to vote!

The company I work for pays the same rate ...just over NLW to all irrespective of age..so all good there...but to do it they scrapped the experience/responsibility bandings. So those of us with higher bandings have had to take a pay cut..15% in my case...anyone who refused to sign the contract was shown the door.

The 16 yr old checkout kid gets the same as someone who is expected to deputise.
So not ageist but highly dismissive of the staff who put the profits into the company.

That's exactly what you guys need to do - voting isn't enough. You have to get together, round people up and get them to vote, and start demanding collective action on housing, wages, benefits. Join renters' unions, campaign for the right to the city, for an end to discrimination on wages and benefits, for better jobs. You are the victims of a sustained campaign to deprive you of a decent future, and you need to stand up.

Until you really start agitating, you're going to be ripped off by governments who are prioritising the needs and wishes of a much wealthier older generation. I am not saying this to patronise you - I'm saying it because I'm seriously, seriously worried about the long term financial wellbeing of those under 25 right now.

(And, for the record, I am involved in organisations in some of those areas, campaigning on your behalf!)

I was working before the minimum wage came in at all.

My pay was under £1.50/hour (care work).

When the minimum wage came in, that jumped to £4 something - riches, in comparison.

I think it's disgraceful at 18-25 year olds are being considered someone worth less than over 25s.

But I think it's great that we have legislation forcing employers to pay a set minimum.

Honeydragon "I remember when min wage came through in the 1990's .... I got a pay cut hmm thanks Blair voters."

There was no obligation for employers to cut wages when the minimum wage was introduced. That was solely the choice of your employer, not the Government.

I'm well aware of that. But it also gave big business the opportunity to discriminate even further. A few years ago there was a great thread about being young and employed, its inception and how many of of us were negatively affected by it.

VERY ageist and can't believe it's been allowed to stand. I can see it for under 18s in some jobs, as they cannot perform certain functions, but it's incredibly discriminatory. Awful

Yes it is ageist! I work in HR and I'm just waiting for the test case (which I'm sure will come) to challenge it.

I agree in principle however, shouldn't U18's be in Fte?

Just because they are in fte doesn't mean they shouldn't be paid the same wage as others for doing the same job. The current minimum wage for 16/17 years olds is £3.87. They'd have to work for over an hour to afford the bus fare.

YANBU. It was really annoying knowing that I was working for less money, yet doing the same job, as my co-workers when I was younger. Outgoings shouldn't matter, it should be based on the work that you do.