“Yes, I have thoughts about L.A. ‘s wage hike,” a Culver City business owner said yesterday, hours after the Los Angeles City Council made the $15 minimum wage almost-law, with one step to go.
“What a bunch of idiots,” said the gentleman who has operated his company since the 1990s.
He said that 14 of the 15 Council members – all except the unorthodox Gil Cedillo — visited with his business group.
“Some seemed sympathetic,” said the owner, who wished to remain anonymous. “Some did not. We participated in all public hearings on the minimum wage.
“We wanted to educate legislators and L.A. City Council members about the true costs to employ people. I have been handing out papers with per-employee Workers Comp costs, matching payroll costs and health insurance costs.
“Remember, the affordable health care act is just now kicking in for employers.
“What these union-owned elected officials on the City Council are overlooking, is who would be hurt by a very high minimum wage.
“Teenage summer jobs will be gone.
“Those without higher education never will see a fulltime job with benefits again.
“I do have several functioning illiterate fulltime employees.
“I hope I don’t have to make them all part time employees.
“I have had to reduce some benefits already, like those who worked here 20 years have four weeks’ paid vacation.
“That has been reduced to two weeks paid.
“But they could take extra time off.
“Due to the 9.5 percent provision of the ACA, along with the next wage increase on Jan. 1, we can only allow two weeks’ vacation.
“The three days paid sick leave is also a paperwork nightmare. The regs have not been issued for what calendar year we are supposed to use.
“It seems we can no longer require a doctor’s note for any illness more than a day. Really??
“We can’t even ask for a doc’s note?
“Anyway, I am getting off subject. I can’t rant anymore without my blood pressure rising.
“Also up for future discussion on the L.A. City Council is a 12 days of paid sick leave plus requirements that service charges must go to certain employees, and would not be property of the business.
“This is what some high-end stores in our field are looking at in order to eliminate bonuses. They want to evenly disburse the service charges among all workers at the site.
“But I must stop talking.”
