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Businesses React to New Minimum Wage

Some Oregon businesses are reacting to an increase to the minimum wage; and some business owners may think twice before hiring more people. They say times are tough and the 30 cent an hour bump will hit their bottom lines. January 1st is when the increase takes effect, and this means businesses big and small will be shelling out a minimum of $8.80 an hour every employee. Tom Burke owns Sunset Lanes: “It’s a time right now that’s pretty challenging or us to have wages go up. We’re fighting to maintain the benefits that we have here.” And Melissa McKusky, the manager of Hollywood Bowl says, the impact runs deep. “We’re a family owned business. We’ve been a family owned business for 30 years, and with the economy the way that its it, it’s going to make me think twice before hiring more people.” Still, January, the rwo0edged business sword grows sharper here in Oregon. Oregon is one of ten states' that raises its minimum wage based on what the consumer price index, or inflation, is doing. Another state that does that, Washington state, is expected to announced its new minimum wage hourly rate on September 30th.

 

 

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