Small Businesses Talk Minimum Wage With Acting Secretary of Labor
Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris joins Small Business Majority's Founder & CEO and small business owners to discuss how raising the minimum wage could impact entrepreneurs
Washington, DC̢??Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today joined Small Business Majority Founder & CEO John Arensmeyer and a group of small business owners for a roundtable discussion on how increasing the minimum wage could impact on small businesses and our economy.
A scientific opinion poll Small Business Majority recently released shows entrepreneurs strongly support increasing the minimum wage because it will enhance consumer spending, which can increase the demand for small firms̢??? goods and services and boost their businesses̢??? bottom lines, while strengthening the economy. The poll also revealed the majority of small business owners agree raising the minimum wage will allow low-income workers to more easily support themselves, relieving pressure on taxpayer-financed government assistance programs.
̢???A minimum wage increase will mean more money in the pockets of some 15 million workers nationwide who haven̢???t seen an increase in take home pay for four years. That̢???s money that they will spend on the basics like food and clothing for their kids,̢???? said acting Secretary Harris. ̢???When these workers get that raise, they̢???ll turn right around and spend it at businesses in their local communities. A minimum wage increase will be good for workers and their families, and good for small business owners who know that consumer spending is what we need to grow our economy.̢????
Several plans for raising the minimum wage are making their way through Congress. Small businesses employ almost half of the private sector workforce, so having their voices heard by policymakers is important to the discussion.
̢???The vast majority of small business owners already pay their workers more than the minimum wage in order to attract and retain quality workers. By raising it across the board, more Americans will have more money to spend at small businesses. This will help them create jobs, which strengthens the economy overall,̢???? Arensmeyer said. ̢???The economic domino effect raising the minimum wage would have would be significant.̢????
For the minimum wage poll full report visit: http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/small-business-research/minimum-wage/
To talk to small business owners who participated in the event, contact Allison Abney at [email protected] or (202) 289-0957.
<p><strong>About Small Business Majority</strong><br />
Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing America's 28 million small businesses today. Since 2005, we have actively engaged small business owners and policymakers in support of public policy solutions, and have delivered information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth and drive a strong, sustainable economy. We are a team of more than 30 working from our 11 offices in Washington, D.C. and 9 states, with a network of more than 45,000 small business owners and more than 2,000 business organizations, along with a formal strategic partnership program of more than 125 business organizations, enabling us to reach more than 500,000 entrepreneurs. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about issues including taxes, healthcare, access to capital, entrepreneurship, workforce development, clean energy and immigration. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/SBM_Media" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessMajority" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/smlbizmajority/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</p>