The Christmas season is in full swing, which for some means an abundance of holiday shopping, eating, and festive gatherings. For others, however, the holiday season is a time of financial strain, unpredictable work schedules, and disappointed children. Minimum wage workers in the retail and service industries bear the brunt of increased consumerism during the holidays and reap little reward. Despite their long and unforgiving hours in the workplace, these workers often come home without enough earnings to pay their rent and bills, let alone buy food for special holiday meals or gifts to put under the Christmas tree.
The cashier at the grocery store, retail clerk at the mall, or server at a holiday party are examples of employees who put in long hours during the holiday season and typically make minimum wage or less. Many of these low-wage workers will end the year earning below the federal poverty line. For example, a single parent with one child who works a full-time minimum wage job earns just $15,080 before taxes. The federal poverty line for a family of two is $15,930—and that is considered by many to be an insufficient measure of what a family actually needs to earn to pay for basic expenses. Hard work clearly does not equal economic security.
