business

"So what gives? Why are some businesses bucking the trend and calling for a change in policy that would so clearly increase their expenses...?" What is going to happen is the people making a starting wage of $11.50 per hour at Costco are going to see the minimum wage go up and the differential between their wage and the minimum go down and demand an even higher wage. If they make $4 an hour more than minimum wage today and only $2 more an hour tomorrow, they will want an increase as well. Getting high quality employees for minimum wage is really next to impossible because if the job is lost it is not much of a big loss. That's why most businesses pay more than minimum wage WITHOUT the government forcing them to do it! Raising the minimum wage is a great idea because a lot of small mom-and-pop businesses like restaurants, gas stations, etc., will be forced out of business. We should sit back and let the Democrats destroy as many jobs as possible, like the thousands of medical device industry jobs destroyed because of new Obamacare taxes already. Sit back and laugh.

You go Costco. They are a great example of a company that practices good citizenship. They try to make everybody (employees, customers, investors and society/government) winners. Contrast that to Walmart, which is concerned with the bottom line above all else. So what if employees can't make enough to pay for rent, food and medical care. Let them go on food stamps and medicaid. That way the Waltons can have several family members that now have more billions than they know what to do with. By the way, callmeron, most economists say that raising minimum wage will NOT cause significant loss of jobs. States which have raised minimum wage in the last two decades have NOT shown related drops in jobs.

Costco a great example of a company that practices good citizenship, more like a company that wants big government to kill their competition. Any time a business wants government to act, it wants big government to make it harder for their competition. This is Crony Capitalism not the Free Market.

There's no question we shop at Costco for prices and products, but equally important is how they treat their employees. Does Costco want to sell goods and make a profit? Of course. But Costco's business model stands as a good example of ethical capitalism, where profit is not the sole motivation.

Not challenging to figure out. Costco pays its employees $11.50 an hour, the proposed minimum wage increase is to $9.00 an hour. The change will not effect Costco at all while increasing costs for it's competition, most notably Wal-Mart/Sam's Club who pays less than $9.00 an hour on average.

johnsq316- just wanted to congratulate you for hitting the nail squarely on the head. they proposed $12.50, Costco would have been against it also. Bill G.

The real job creators are consumers of all kinds. You put more money in people's hands, they will spend more. Pretty simple. Costco's figured that out, as well as they treat their employees the way they want to be treated, so their employees stay longer and are happier. Good business decisions.

Posted by porker: "There's no question we shop at Costco for prices and products, but equally important is how they treat their employees."

EXACTLY!!!

If Costco can pay decent, living wages, so can Walmart!!!!!!!

Costco is a progressive Seattle-based company that understands when you treat your employees well, business is good. I shop almost exclusively at Costco and have never stepped foot into a Wal-Mart. Why? Because I know Costco treats its employees well and the quality of the management is reflected not only in the smiles and good nature of Costco employees but also in the quality of its Kirkland brand. Anybody that has used a signature Kirkland product knows exactly what I am talking about. Go Costco and keep up the ethical and practical good management.

Posted by johnsq316: "Not challenging to figure out. Costco pays its employees $11.50 an hour, the proposed minimum wage increase is to $9.00 an hour. The change will not effect Costco at all while increasing costs for it's competition, most notably Wal-Mart/Sam's Club who pays less than $9.00 an hour on average"

Exactly!

If Walmart was required to pay a living wage and benefits, my taxes (and yours) would no longer have to pay for the Walmart employees health care, reduced price school lunches, housing assistance, etc.

GREAT!!!