Minimum wage in the state of Florida was increased by the Federal Government from $6.67 to $6.79. While the increase allows the public to earn more money, the issue of "using up" the financial aid awarded to work study students is becoming more apparent.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the national minimum wage as of July 24, 2007 was $5.85. The Department also reinforced the appearance of financially weak states across the country, such as Georgia and Wyoming, who only make $5.15 an hour, $0.70 below the national average. Although Florida is above the average minimum wage, the states' wages continue to increase in order to keep up with inflation. Financial aid counselor Brittany Debity Barker says minimum wage usually increases around $0.25 every year, as seen with last year's raise from $6.40 to $6.67. Yet this year's rise is significantly lower. Debity says this slight change is causing students to wonder how much the rise in minimum wage alter the effects on campus?
Despite the increase in income, the amount awarded to each student remains the same and is determined not only by the student's degree of necessity, but also by financial services. Because the amount awarded remains the same, it will take less time for students to collect the full amount. Last semester, a student could work as many as 20 hours a week without penalty. This semester, a student cannot work more than the allotted 17 hours a week, a whole three hours less than before.
"The department will have to spread out the hours more [amongst their workers]," Debity explained. The students will be working less for the same amount of money and the department will have an increase in demand for work study students, but no money to fund the expansion.
Yet the issue of earning more pay in different departments on campus is a concern for not only students but supervisors as well. Biology Lab Manager, Terrie Blumenauer, comments, "It's hard to keep assets in the department when you could work somewhere else for more." Certain positions on campus, such as the Commons and the warehouse, pay more because the work is more taxing.
"Time is limited; to expect people to stick around without a reasonable raise makes it hard to be a convincing boss," Blumenauer explains.
However, sticking it out in the department assigned could prove beneficial. Debity explains that after working more than one full year in a specific department, the student could receive a $0.10 raise at the request of the boss. Despite this fact, the information concerning raises on campus is not as well known as it could be, considering the raise isn't very significant.
"The usefulness [of the students] increases dramatically and the pay does not reflect that," Blumenauer admits.
"Many students don't make all their money. The hours will probably be taken off during finals," Debity explains. Despite the issue of students not earning their entire amount before the semester finishes, ultimately the students have the opportunity to make as much money as they were allotted, even though they will be working fewer hours weekly. "Overall, it's good for the students. I mean, who doesn't want to [work less and] make more money?"
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