My job pays minimum wage. It doesn’t feel too high to me. But bills and shopping going up and down like Leicester City sometimes makes me feel as squeezed as I was three years ago, back when I was a pound over: www.ft.com/content/af63...
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This continues to be such a great article. I don't, to be clear, think it is 'too high': it's good to have a NMW target that aims to ensure that "I don’t want to have to tell lies all day, and I don’t want to get work calls beyond the car park" is something everyone can choose.
jul 17, 2025, 7:03 pm • 1 0 • view
At the same time tho, rising NMW has put pressure on working conditions right? It's why a receptionist job where you get to sit down is desirable over running between a dozen self service machines
jul 17, 2025, 7:05 pm • 0 0 • view
Tho actually work intensity went *down* in the most recent tranche of data (which surprised me). But yeah, have to accept that like all great outcomes it does have consequences. One of which is that 'conditions' become more important in attracting workers.
jul 17, 2025, 7:10 pm • 2 0 • view
To return to my original post, my point remains that social care is just a hard job and that if you want a NMW at two-thirds of earnings, it is going to be a high turnover one no matter what you do.
jul 17, 2025, 7:12 pm • 1 0 • view
Look there's also a great way to better working conditions for the public sector and give them a de facto pay rise. Unfortunately I'm told it's woke?
jul 17, 2025, 7:13 pm • 0 0 • view
The receptionists and checkout staff I work with are on a notch above minimum. They both earn their money. Receptionists can get a lot of grief from handsy blokes who don’t like hearing no.
jul 17, 2025, 7:10 pm • 1 0 • view
This is a big reason why inflation is just so unbelievably toxic. It brings a level of uncertainty that's really bewildering and frightening to a lot of people
jul 17, 2025, 7:03 pm • 3 0 • view