I’ve been following this sub for a minute, and I just needed to rant at how unfair this is.
I work for a mid sized university in Missouri as a student worker. Apparently, public schools or such can pay their students as low as federal minimum wage here. What?? That’s not even $8/hr?
I am “lucky” (as my supervisor says) that I’m getting paid $10.55 when Missouri minimum wage is $11.15. My luckiness has allowed me to not be able to afford rent and groceries and my other utility bills, so I’m utilizing food pantries, but I can’t qualify for food stamps since I’m a student (students don’t need to eat you silly gooses).
I don’t understand how this isn’t illegal? All my school had to do was pay for some certification from the Department of Labor and now they can pay me below the set “living wage in missouri.” Even with tuition on the rise, food plans and housing on the rise (13% this last year), parking so expensive I walk instead, they can’t pay me and my fellow students the amount set by the state? It’s such bull??
Rant over. Thanks for attending my TED Talk