Competition for workers is fierce: The Wendy’s on Mr. Bellman’s drive home from work advertises wages of $18 an hour.
New Hampshire is surrounded by states where the minimum wage is above $13, so if Granite State employers tried to offer substantially less, many workers could cross the border for a bigger paycheck.
Paige Roberts, president and chief executive of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce in Mississippi, said she was “nearly laughed out of a job” when she started asking members about paying the minimum wage.
Faster hikes in the wage floor in the late 2010s forced up long-stagnant wages in fields like restaurants and retail.
And some businesses, such as summer camps, say they are still paying the minimum wage for entry-level workers or those in training.
Persons:
Bellman’s, Mr, Bellman, Paige Roberts
Organizations:
Granite, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce
Locations:
New Hampshire, Granite State, Alabama, Mississippi, Jackson County