Large Majority of Americans Oppose Raising the Minimum Wage to $15 But Support Paid Leave Mandates

Employee Relations, Employment Law

A recent New York Times/CBS poll found that 60 percent of Americans oppose increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour, but 70 percent favor raising it to $10.10.  Although a few cities have enacted minimum wage rates of $15, congressional Democrats have introduced legislation (H.R. 2150 and S. 1150) to increase it to $12 over four years (2016 to 2020) and then index it to inflation.  Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has expressed support for the movement to increase the minimum wage, but she has not yet provided a specific dollar amount she might seek as president.  The New York Times/CBS poll also found Americans overwhelmingly favor requiring employers to offer paid sick leave (85%), paid FMLA leave (80%), and requiring chain stores and fast-food outlets to give workers at least two weeks' notice of any changes in their work schedules or provide them with extra pay (60%).