Hey Rehctub, my very first job after leaving home (mum and dad had a corner shop I worked all non school hours in it from 10 years old) was in the produce section of a local supermarket. As most things there was a class system and below management were the butchers, the highest paid employees in the shop.

So I’m guessing if you have your own business you already pay them quite well or they would be with the supermarket chains…?

But I thought that wages did in fact increase exactly because “life is tough” or got tougher, I thought that was what that index thing was all about.

You are explaining that if wages go up then product or service prices have to go up so it doesn’t help anyone anyway? What is the answer? How do businesses grow now?

10 – 15 hours a week without being paid? I’m not the right one to ask that question.[smile]

The Pied Piper
But I thought that wages did in fact increase exactly because “life is tough” or got tougher, I thought that was what that index thing was all about.

Well in essence, yes that would be right, but, who pays for the wage increase if not the very consumer who received the increase in the first place. The business owner can’t just pay additional wages out of thin air or it will in effect drop their wage, or, as often happens, they cut staff numbers and work harder themselves so that they are not out of pocket .

It is vicious circle I am afraid. As I say, you can’t just hand the low paid an increase and forget everyone else. So increases are usually across the board.

What is the answer? How do businesses grow now?

Businesses try to grow though population expansion and customer retention through good products and service.

Now days, once the population expands, someone opens a new centre and all of a sudden your customer base is spread between more retailers, often occurring before the expansion happens and all in the name of providing competitive market places.

All this usually achieves is the advancement of one centre at the demise of others. How many small hardware stores are left after Bunnings was allowed in and how many families have lost their homes because of it? Remember, most of these were ‘locals’ serving locals.

It’s become a ‘dog eat dog’ world, all in the name of competition. So I can’t answer your question.

10 – 15 hours a week without being paid?
Now that’s not what I said at all, I said ---“not knowing if you will be paid”, there is a difference.

In any business the owner has to make a profit or it simply does not work.

Increases, in any form, must be passed on, or, in some cases, staff numbers are cut.

By the way, butchers are the only trades people in the store.