[BU Today] Is Today’s Minimum Wage an Honest Living Wage?
School of Hospitality Administration speaker series on Wednesday to address minimum wages, tipping, hospitality industry challenges
At $15 an hour, the minimum wage in Massachusetts is one of the highest in the nation, trailing only New York, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., the state of Washington, and California. The minimum wage still languishes in the single digits for many states, and the federally mandated minimum wage is only $7.25.
For perspective, the $15 hourly rate translates to a salary of $31,200, assuming a 40-hour workweek over 52 weeks, while a $7.25 rate equals a pay of $15,080. Are those living wages?
On Wednesday, BU’s School of Hospitality Administration will address that issue at its Spring 2024 Dean’s Distinguished Speakers Series, featuring Saru Jayaraman, director of the Food Labor Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley.
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It’s a subject of importance to SHA Dean Arun Upneja, and BU Today asked him for his perspective on minimum wages, tipping, and how the hospitality industry can manage rising costs.