To the Editor:

New York State’s recent increase in the minimum wage is seen as both a victory to the worker and a setback to the business owner. It is understandable both ways, for the worker gets a bigger paycheck at the end of the week and the owner has to scramble to find ways to make up for the minimum wage increase.

Small businesses and large multi-billion dollar companies alike are going to have to shell out more money to pay their employees. These new costs will most likely hurt small businesses like mom and pop stores as opposed to companies like McDonalds and Walmart who are better able to absorb the additional costs.

Self-preservation is a survival tactic used when a threat is perceived. To remain relevant and afloat, a business must do what is necessary to survive. The bottom line is profit margins and in order to regain revenue losses a business must do thing like cut employees and raise prices.

By putting oneself in the shoes of the owner and the worker, it is reasonable to believe that both parties are justified. One side argues for a living wage that they can sustain themselves and their families on while the other does what is necessary to pay the bills and put food on the table as well.

Now, after having said all this, who is looking out for the consumer? With the back and forth battle between owner and worker, the consumer gets lost in the shuffle. From a consumers perspective there seems to be a disgruntled mentality. When prices are raised there is always a moment of frustration, but it’s to be expected.

When it comes to paying more for something, we as consumers have been conditioned to react. Maybe the reaction is warranted and the consumer is justified in their complaint. Whatever the relationship or the situation is, it can be sure that it won’t be easy. However, there reaches a point at which the cost is just too much. This threshold comes as a tipping point, the point at which the consumer decides to not participate in purchasing all together.

Cory M. Chase

Canton