Looking for seasonal minion … or a seasoned minion … not for eating.

So many hesitations upon commenting...:

We pay our adolescent babysitter $10/hour. Good idea? I don't know.

Flexibility, experience, arts background, and outdoor interest preferred. That's a lot of prerequisites for a poverty wage. Yes, it's a poverty wage.

Perhaps you should be advertising for an adolescent employee. Again, I truly don't know. It just seems...low.

Thanks for the criticism and I have no hesitation in responding. We are a small company and this is currently what we can afford to offer for the position. Would we love to offer a higher starting wage? Yep.

We're committed to raising the wages and benefits of our employees, and even more committed to making Raven a great place to work (which it is). We are looking for a certain type of person to join the company: artsy fartsy, creative, outdoorsy, progressive types, maybe with a few tattoos and scars. Those are the types of folks that succeed at Raven.

And, hey, help us grow! Send some business our way, so that we can continue to invest in our employees. You know, a little tickle with the slap.

I can attest to the fact that Raven & Associates is a great company with a solid future.  It will be one of Duluth's success stories as time goes on.  Anyone looking for a starting position with and up and coming firm that appreciates hard work and creativity would be lucky to join the team.  And no, I am neither an employee or family member of anyone connected there.   $10.00 an hour is low, but it's above minimum and a lot of small firms struggle to pay that much.  If minimum were raised, we'd all be better off.  But, that's a discussion for another place.

A few questions Vicarious.  1. Do you own your own business and if so what do you pay your employees? Paying the babysitter 10 dollars an hour for a few hours here and there is much different than consistently paying someone 10 dollars an hour for payroll.

2. What do you consider a non poverty wage? Because in this neck of the woods starting positions most places start around 10 dollars an hour. Well above minimum wage. We are in the Duluth/Superior area. Not the Cities.

Finally, I don't know of any position that doesn't have some prerequisites.  It seems to me you commented to be uppity rather than to offer any true advice. More of an in your face statement about how great you pay your babysitter but don't mean to come across rude type deal than anything helpful. I don't know anyone there but I do know it's nice to see a small business trying to expand and grow. It's too bad they aren't good enough for you. If you want to help them pay more try supporting them.

The poverty line, according to the Man, is actually quite low:

2014 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia

Persons in family/household / Poverty guideline
1 - $11,670
2 - $15,730
3 - $19,790
4 - $23,850
5 - $27,910
6 - $31,970
7 - $36,030
8 - $40,090

For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,060 for each additional person.

This is not the first time that Raven has had this conversation with a reader on PDD about the wages of their work.

http://www.perfectduluthday.com/2011/11/14/raven-associates-inc-is-looking-for-a-minion-er-an-employee/

http://www.perfectduluthday.com/2011/09/27/know-anyone-looking-for-a-cool-place-to-work-in-duluth/

So I guess it's not surprising that it would come up again.  And it's not surprising that I agree with the criticisms, I understand the response, and nothing changes.  

If there were any possible argument for shifting the terms of debate, perhaps it might be that local businesses would need to advertise for help less frequently if wages were better.  But the work here is admittedly seasonal, so that probably does not apply, either.

So.

Raven operates in a fiercely competitive industry.  The low bid wins.  They also serve mostly non-profit organizations which often fight back on price.  Customers do not ask about wages & benefits.  Some 'expect' annual donations to their organization.  Don't donate to their annual dinner/banquet/gala?  Don't expect any more orders.

Raven has several good, local competitors and many online.  If persons here purchase patches and accessories from Raven, and not go with a less expensive option, that $10/hr. wage will grow.

Anyone who would look down their nose at a $10 an hour job has never had to work for less.

I'd apply, but I have a feeling my schedule would make me a pain in the butt to fit in.

I think that poverty guideline is misleading because those amounts would afford radically different qualities of life in different places around the US, even different parts of Minnesota.

"Anyone who would look down their nose at a $10 an hour job has never had to work for less."

No, you're missing the point. It's not about whether people work harder for less; it's about what labor should be worth.

Thanks to everyone who showed interest in becoming one of our minions! We have filled the position! Thanks!