Saying "People Should Earn A Livable Wage" Is Not Unreasonable

With the price of petrol and food on the rise, everyone is feeling the heavy strain on their finances.

It is not unreasonable for employees to expect to be paid a livable wage. We’re all trying to survive, but receiving compensation that is less than what is deserved is unfair and simply wrong.

In a survey?targeting a total of 2000 well-established professionals such as lawyers and accountants, it was revealed that 45% of the respondents are underpaid in their current roles. Some experts believe that this would have to do with the rising cost of living rather than being unfairly remunerated.

But even if employees are earning the correct amount of minimum wage that is required by law, the real life pricing of expenses that are necessary for survival do not match what is currently being earned.

There are also not enough jobs available for South Africans; no job results in no money, but even with some kind of income, everything required for survival is expensive and unaffordable during this rising economic climate.?

Underpaying employees is not a new phenomenon, and older generations may view this new generation of working individuals as "entitled" for demanding that what they earn match the duties they fulfil, but young employees in particular, feel that if they're going to paid?"bottom dollar for their work, they should produce work of bottom dollar quality."

Rather than risk unemployment and lose the income they do have, many stick it out even though they are?struggling to make ends meet.

South African citizens are expected to make do with what they earn, even though?the cost of living and the astronomical levels of inflation?have not taken into account that salaries/wages currently earned are not enough to sustain themselves and their families during this critical time.?

The devastating impacts of inflation and the left-over results from the Covid-19 pandemic burdens low-income earners more than it does for those in positions above them. While entry-level employees may be struggling to afford certain expenses, those who are earning more will not feel the same strain.

The rising and simply unaffordable cost of living?has bred a lack of motivation amongst employees, but since it's better to be employed than unemployed (particularly within?the current climate of unemployment?in South Africa), these employees have decided to avoid doing more than what is required in the job description, instead deciding to silently rebel.

This new phenomenon,?termed "quiet quitting", is a silent movement that could bring productivity in workplace environments to a halt, as 40% of employees under the age of 30 have begun "acting their wage," which could also impact a business' profitability in the future.

"Acting their wage" essentially means that employees are?doing only what is required of them?in their job positions; nothing more, nothing less. Almost half of workers younger than 30?do the “bare minimum” at their jobs,?especially if they see?no prospect of their wages increasing.

While “acting their wage” may place more responsibility on other employees to carry their weight, both groups (quiet quitters and those picking up the slack) are at risk of burning out from being overworked with little pay, meaning their mental health will now also be impacted.

Struggling to afford groceries, school fees, water and electricity bills, mortgages, etc. is enough to cause stress for anyone, which can in turn lead to?heightened levels of anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

Sometimes when entering a job, employees think that doing more than what is required of them will put them in the good graces of their employers and increase their value in the workforce, which they hope can eventually lead to promotions and/or raises.

But for most employees, that promotion and/or raise never arrives.?

The reality is that oftentimes, an employee's duties, responsibilities and productivity goes way beyond the scope of the stipulated job requirements, and can lead to these employees being taken advantage of within their places of work.?

Article written by Gabriella Siebritz.