Employers are underpaying hourly workers, and it’s costing their business

Published 4 Min Read

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While the cost of living in the U.S. increases year after year, wages have struggled to keep up — and workers may be reaching a breaking point.

The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour for over a decade, making it an unlivable wage in a country where the average American pays around $1,300 per month on rent alone. Even the District of Columbia, which has the highest minimum wage in the U.S. at $16.50 per hour, has not kept up. According to finance resource SoFi, the average money needed for rent, utilities and food would swallow a minimum wage worker’s monthly pay. 

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


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