Some businesses say Nebraska's $9 minimum wage will be a burden, but others just shrug (doggie pix 2

[Omaha Steve]

RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Dog sitter Adrianna Kurtzuba plays with the dogs at ComeSitStay. Because the doggie day care pays most of its workers more than $9 an hour already, it doesn’t expect the new minimum wage to take a bite out of its bottom line. Many others, including some fast-food restaurant owners, say the same thing.

http://www.omaha.com/money/some-businesses-say-nebraska-s-minimum-wage-will-be-a/article_5896872a-86d9-55a5-b070-93e5676dbd0b.html

POSTED: TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016 12:30 AM | UPDATED: 10:11 AM, TUE JAN 5, 2016.
By Janice Podsada / World-Herald staff writer

The sometimes rough-and-tumble job of refereeing “25 to 75 large dogs at serious play” now pays $9 an hour at an Omaha doggie day care facility, but that’s just to start.

If new employees work out, “they’ll see their pay raised to $10 an hour after a few weeks,” said Renee Johnson, owner of ComeSitStay, a dog day care and overnight boarding facility at 180th and Harrison Streets.

On Jan. 1, Nebraska’s minimum wage leapt to $9 an hour for nontipped workers from $8 in 2015, a 12.5 percent increase.

For some businesses, the effect will be negligible. Many businesses were offering new or entry-level workers minimum wage or more before the new law went into effect.

FULL story at link.


RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Dogs come running for treats at ComeSitStay in Omaha. A low unemployment rate and competition for good workers means many already are making more than Nebraska’s new $9 an hour minimum wage.