RBC I For more than 40 years, Mike Cottingham has been sending teenagers into national parks, forests and wilderness areas for multi-week backcountry outings. They run rapids, ride horseback and summit some of the West’s most famous peaks. But Cottingham believes he will be forced out of business by a new Obama administration requirement to pay staff a minimum wage of $10.10 an hour.
This week, Cottingham beseeched a congressional panel to exempt outfitters, summer…
Doing the math with the numbers provided by Mr. Cottingham, workers for a six-week course, working 24-7, would make approximately $2.52 per hour. Obviously, a 7-week employment would result in even lower hourly wages. Any serious student would not be able to afford taking such a job when they could easily make more doing many other jobs for the summer. Although there may be bonuses/tips at the end of the course, that is “soft” money and cannot be depended upon. Therefore, Cottingham must be correct in stating that his or other outdoor workers are not working for the money but the love of being outdoors.
I do not know if the workers’ room and board are free or part of their employment. I do know some outdoor businesses charge for room and board so you can decrease that $2.52/hour if that is the case.
Do I think everyone has to adhere to the minimum wage law? If you can find someone who will work for the wage you offer, then so be it. This incredibly low salary and the deduction for room and board took me out of the summer tourist employment years ago, before I ever became a teacher and now again a student.