I don’t see what it would have to do with contractors. Minimum wage laws apply to employer employer relationships. Independent contractors can charge whatever they want.
So you want to pay someone for every hour they might get called, too? Even if that is a very rare responsibility?
> I don’t see what it would have to do with contractors.
It would further encourage contractor relationships, as I said. I don't see this as a good thing.
It will not encourage contractor relationships anymore than now, it will simply require businesses to pay the hourly workers more and give them steady schedules, benefits, etc.
Doubtful
> it will simply require businesses to pay the hourly workers more
Why? It seems like this is a lever you're hoping to use to get the exempt workers paid more and/or a slightly greater allocation of work away from what had formerly been exempt workers.
> benefits
Why?
The whole concept of hourly minimum wage is undercut by the ability of businesses to pay a meager salary.
The mechanism of action for increases prices paid to workers is by decreasing supply of man hours from one individual at a low price (i.e. increasing salaries minimum).
I think this is absolute rounding error on the number of additional hourly workers needed.
Yes, a reasonable percentage of salaried workers in low wage industries are exploited as you describe. In turn, with an hourly wage, they'll work a small percentage fewer hours.
And how far does this extend? Can I not pay a contractor a fixed rate for a project? Or a fixed rate to handle _____ for me for a week? It would seem to encourage arm's-length contracting arrangement for services and coverage, which isn't ideal.