Should teens be paid at a rate lower than the minimum wage? I appreciate the fact that some teens need to work to help support their families. But to do that, they
need to land jobs in the first place,
The bottom line is that lowering the minimum wage for teens makes it easier for them to find jobs. Ane
helping all Americans find work will ultimately help improve our nation's economy.
Bob Battles --General Counsel & Government Affairs Director, Association of Washington (State)
Business
NO
Why should workers get paid less simply because they happen to be teenagers? If a teen is performing
the same tasks as a 20-year-old, he or she should earn the same amount of money.
Many teens have to work to help support their families. Others live on their own or are trying to save
money for college. In recent years, the cost of higher education has skyrocketed. According to the
College Board, average annual tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities have more
than doubled in the past 20 years. If teens are forced to accept lower wages, it will be even harder for
them to afford a degree. And research shows that people who graduate from college typically go on to
earn higher wages.
Young people aren't the only ones who would be affected by a lower teen wage. If employers find it
cheaper to hire teens, older workers might get passed over for jobs.
It's unfair to pay teens less than adults simply because of their age.
A lot of pay inequality already exists in the U. S. For example, the Census Bureau estimates that women
earn about 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. We shouldn't pass laws that reinforce wage
discrimination especially when there's little evidence to suggest that businesses would create new
jobs for teens if they could pay them less than adults.
Not to mention, the U. S. economy depends heavily on consumer spending, and teens spend billions of
dollars every year. If young people earn less money, they won't spend as much. That's bad for the
economy
Every hardworking American deserves to receive fair compensation, and that includes teens. After all,
isn't paying people an honest wage for honest work a fundamental American value?
---Marilyn P. Watkins
Policy Director, Economic Opportunity Institute
Explain which author (YES or NO) better supports their argument. Use details from both passages to
support your answer and clearly explain why. RL8 DOK 3