When the ball dropped and the space needle lit up at midnight on Jan. 1 there was much more than kisses and warm welcomes to steering up the New Year.

Washington State had a thirteen-cent increase to start the year, causing the minimum wage to jump from $9.19 to $9.32, according to the United States Department of Labor.

Currently Washington State holds the highest minimum wage in the country, followed by Oregon, according to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website.

Although most people are happy that they are receiving more in their paychecks because of the increases that have been put into effect for the past few years, others would argue that constant minimum wage fluctuations are unfair. Employees who make more than minimum wage are getting the short end of the stick.

It pays off when an employee is hired in a company and shows hard work and potential. These traits and dedication to the company can grant an employee the opportunity to climb the ladder of success. 

Unfortunately, now that our state’s minimum wage is on a constant increase, that opportunity will fade away. If this pattern continues, soon employees who are making minimum wage will start making the same amount of money their managers make, with less of the responsibilities.

Due to this fact, those who are in higher management positions or have been with the company for a longer period of time sometimes become unmotivated to fulfill their duties.

The reason why Washington State’s minimum wage keeps growing is because the wage is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), according to the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington.

The annual change in the CPI is used yearly to appraise Washington’s minimum wage measuring goods and services including the living costs of food, shelter, clothes, and services such as doctor and dental visits.

This way of measurement is required by Initiative 688, which voters approved in 1988, as stated by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

Increases in wages are a necessity because when the cost of living increases, so should the minimum wage to stabilize the economy. However, while those who make minimum wage get a raise, it is only fair to also give the same amount of raise to those individuals who are making more than the minimum.

Those who have been working longer or who have more responsibility in companies should be awarded for their accomplishments by the state as well. We enter the job market with the hope of financial success, but that hope is quickly diminished when inequalities get in the way.

-Marissa Mararac is a junior communication major from Tacoma. She can be contacted at 335-2290 or by [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the staff of The Daily Evergreen or those of Student Publications.