Am I getting ripped off?

Question

I'm a 16 year old male that work's at Taco John's. I live in Wisconsin and attend high school as a junior. My current graduation date is 2009. I have been employed at Taco John's for about 3 and a half months. I average about 40 hours every 2 weeks. The pay period is also every two weeks. I am currently getting paid only $6.10 per hour. It's a little bit harder because it is also 20 miles away, but whatever.

I'm just a little curious as to whether or not I'm getting ripped off with how much they're paying me. I'm not even completely sure what the minimum wage is in Wisconsin. I've told several people how much I'm getting paid, and they've all said that I should check into it. They don't think I'm getting paid right.

So I'm asking if someone could do a little bit of research and shed some light on this situation. Am I getting ripped off, or is this normal for a 16 year old?

Answer 1

The minimum wage FOR MINORS in WI is $5.90/hour as of June 1 2007. For adults it is $6.50.

Ignore the other numbers here, they are wrong.

Answer 2

Well I looked into it a bit for you. And although the drive does suck. The current minimum wage page, as of June 1, 07, Is actually 5.90 for minors... So you are getting paid the right amount as far as that goes. Nothing really says in the law that they have to pay you more for traveling..But I would mention that to them.. Find out when your next raise is. It should be every 6 months for taco bell cause I worked at long johns for a year and they are both owned by yum. I would honestly suggest talking to your boss about it. Tell him/her that you are using alot of gas with coming back and forth and how much gas it takes you. And the prices where u have to get gas. Ask when your next raise will be... And make sure for about the whole month before that you are on ur best behavior and doing a good job. Cause usually they do evals. sometime the month before ( How well u do on ur eval, Results in how much of a raise you get).And they probably wont tell you when they are doing the eval. So that will be important to know when the raise is.. Fast food jobs can be rough but honestly I miss that job at ljs.. Working the other jobs that everyone thinks are so much better suck compared to how easy fast food CAN be. But Im not saying its easy, I know that stress... :) Well I hope this did help you...Theres a site below that tells u right at the top about the minimum wage in ur area, and what it wil be when ur 18.. So Good luck on getting a raise.

Answer 3

Everything depends on where you live. I live in CT and I travel 20min to work everyday and I get paid $17.00 an hour. I also get paid bi-weekly. Another thing you have to consider is that you are 16yrs old and not many ppl that age can make as much. Over here for a part time job with the same hours you work...goes for about $8-$10 an hour. Just do your research and when you find something that will pay you better then go for it. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Adult minimum wage in WI is $6.50 am hour, and minor min. wage is $5.90, so you are indeed making more than minimum wage (20 cents an hour over) and not getting "ripped off." That's not bad for a 16-year old working at an unskilled job. I hope this encourages you to go onto college so you can make more than minimum wage! Since you are only working half-time, you may not get a raise for awhile. BTW I googled "minimum wage Wisconsin" for the answer--fairly simple.

Answer 5

Well a 16 year old certainly won't make a lot of money. But driving 20 miles for $6.10 an hour is definitely not worth it in my opinion. But if you love it, then stay with it. But maybe find out how often raises are, or look around your area for a closer job and more pay. If they won't take you until your 17, hold out until then. Its better than not having a job.

Answer 6

Minimum wage in Wisconsin as we speak is actually $6.50. So you are being underpaid by state law standards. It doesn't matter what age you are, if you are working and putting in hours, you SHOULD be getting paid the amount THE LAW says you should get paid. I reccommend printing out some documents of state minimum wage laws and scheduling some time with your manager to discuss your concerns over the issue. If your manager doesn't want to hear it - talk to the GM for the area - find out when they're coming to check up on the restaraunt and talk to that individual then...but YES...you are being UNDER PAID.

Answer 7

There are people older than you who get paid just like you and are not complaining. Stop moaning and get a better job if it bothers you to make that little. I bet you are still living with your parents, so why do you want more money?!? People who have to pay bills etc can moan about it cause they are adults trying to make ends meet. You are only a kid and you can't compare working at some taco place to working for a huge company. If you want that sort of job, focus on your studies and forget about working for little money. Be grateful you get paid at all and have a job. A lot of people are not that lucky. Good Luck!

Answer 8

You are 16. That should be enough to get you some gas, some bling, and tickets to the Violent Femmes concert. If you are smart, save it for college. Better yet, do good in school and get a full-ride scholarship. Save that money for after you get your degree and are ready to buy your first house. If you want your college paid for, you could always join the military. They don't pay much, but the G.I. Bill is phat, and they will make a man out of you. Prof John was harsh, but he is a funny mo fo.

Answer 9

Sounds like a typical pay wage to me. I worked for a grocery chain for 7 years I only got up to 10 an hour and I was a manager of a department. They will give you raises but you have to be there a while before you do.

Answer 10

I think that's the new minimum wage. Typical for a 16 year old but it's awfully far. You're not getting ripped off but it's not the best deal. Good luck finding a better job.

Answer 11

most employers follow the minimum wage guidlines bcuz they could get busted for breaking the law. i believe 6.10 an hour is right. when i recently went on a job interveiw at a local grocery store that was the starting wage 6.10 an hour....