Honestly…|an honest take on the world of PR and other things by Cindy Ronzoni

This week thousands of workers received a 70 cent raise as the nation’s minimum wage rose to $6.55 an hour. In the articles I have been reading, reporters are commenting that teenagers hold most of the minimum wage jobs in this country, but I know that’s not true. Even if it is true, I know that there are millions of adults who are paid this wage and they serve as the heads of their households with children to feed.

I earned minimum wage when I worked at a department store in high school and through college. I also earned minimum wage when I began my career after college. When I began at FOX, when the “The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers” aired, I was making the lowest salary of any employee there - $3.25 an hour.

After I proved my worth, I did receive pay increases and at times had to have that salary doubled to get it in line with what the industry standard was. But, minimum wage was my starting point too.

But, I have to say that there is no way that I would have ended up where I am if it wasn’t for my parent’s support. I could not have afforded to rent an apartment and work the 70+ hours it took to launch the network and prove my worth. Thousands wanted my job and I had to perform above and beyond. I was never home and earning that salary and having to pay back my college loans I could have never afforded to keep that job if my parent’s didn’t offer free room, rent and food. And they bought me my first car too.

I feel bad because I never really realized this until now. It’s too late to “thank my dad” for this opportunity, but I sure can tell my mom. For you see, it wasn’t until I thought about this minimum wage dilemma that it became apparent to me. I could have not been able to pursue my dream based on the salary I earned and I had a college education and no children to feed.

Let me tell you. There’s no one on this planet who doesn’t want a raise. So minimum wage is all of our starting points and sadly, often, people have to start at this wage several times over. Jobs are hard enough to come by these days and sometimes you just have to take what’s offered to have a job. I was reading an article earlier today that spoke of a husband/father who makes the minimum. Of his 6.55 wage per hour, 8 dollars of it goes to his bus fare every day to get to that job.

For you see, if someone on minimum wage doesn’t have outside financial support, it’s impossible to live without debt. And how many of these positions offer health insurance. I bet not many.

So in my book, these adult wage earners are heroes. They face incredible challenges and plow through making the best of it as they pray for that day when they can get a raise. I remember I used to get 5 cent raises at the department store. Can you imagine.

So when taxes increase and the price of groceries increase and gas goes up–it affects these heroes the most. It causes them to make tough decisions like after paying rent can they afford to buy the kids new school supplies.

So heck ya…raise the minimum wage. I know it causes hardships to the owners and some have to downsize because of it. It’s such a Catch - 22. What can we do? Can there ever be a win-win in this situation? Probably not. But the next time you see someone working the minimum - be sure to be extra kind to them. Their lives are hard enough! And we are all equal - with the same needs and wants. There’s no difference. We’re all God’s children and we all participate in the same playground.