What Companies Are Saying about

$15 Minimum Wage

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) today said member companies reacted strongly to the announcement by Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin of a plan to raise New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024.

A growing list of member companies have commented on a report about the compromise published on the association’s website, with almost all of the comments criticizing the idea. NJBIA is releasing the following examples:

“I own a small business that will not be hiring any more entry-level employees. $15/hour is just too much money for us to afford.”

“My sons will inherit our business and are already considering a move to PA or shutting down completely. Trenton is killing us.”

“My husband owns a small business, and we are being taxed and regulated as well as hit with fines, fees, and mandates. It’s out of control. Large and small businesses will leave NJ in droves, right along with NJ citizens. We plan to be among them.”

“Businesses will increase prices passing the costs onto consumers and other businesses for B2B.”

“I’m curious how you handle say an employee with a degree and a few years say making $17 an hour, now you have a non-degree new employee coming in at $15? I would think people would then want a wider wage gap.”

“We compete with China and Mexico already. We can’t pass along increases to our customers. The market should be determining labor rates not Trenton.”

To see all of the comments, go to the story here and scroll to the bottom.