The going rate

[car]

The missus has been offered a part-time shop job. She'll be expected to open, sell, do stock control and close the shop, unsupervised, two days a week. She's been told that the going rate where we are (Wanaka) is $14/hr.

My stock response in any such situation is to say "thanks, I'll have a think about it" and then ask later if the rate is negotiable, because those who don't ask never get. But I don't know whether $14/hr really is the going rate, or if it's a low-ball offer given to a couple of wet-eared rubes like us. It is a sight over minimum wage.

I suspect that there's a lot of variation across these fair isles, but can anyone offer advice?

TIA.

[Lou Girardin]

It may be OK in Wanaka. Retail doesn't pay well. I wouldn't do it for that thought.

[Colapop]

Depends on how much she/you both want/need the job/income. $14/hr is on the low side for what is essentially a position of respeonsibility.

[Smokin]

I know an awefull lot of people that are earning less than that.
Wages in this neck of the woods are just terrible.

[Steam]

It sounds right, that's a $12 or $13 an hour job in Dunedin, the extra dollar I guess is for the Wanaka tight labour market.

[Drum]

So it's true then, we are part of the third world!

[Smokin]

So it's true then, we are part of the third world!

Alas... Yes

[Mom]

It sounds right, that's a $12 or $13 an hour job in Dunedin, the extra dollar I guess is for the Wanaka tight labour market.

That is an unbelievable rate of pay.....

[sunhuntin]

i get min wage where i work, and that job now includes opening and sole charge for 2 hours on sunday. i work with petrol, lpg and customers [all explosives] id be stoked with $14 and hour. lol.

[Jantar]

Welcome to Central Otago: Yes that is actually generous for Central. That's the downside to living in paradise. Wages down here are generally 10 - 20% less thyan for a similar job in the North Island.

[avgas]

yeh $14hr is quite good, before i got put on salary, the highest i went was $22hr, but 98% of my work was about $10-12hr

[Str8 Jacket]

Id say that $14 start rate is quite reasonable for retail. When I first started working for the bank 7 or so years ago I was paid alot less and had to work 9-10 hour days. Had to load the ATM with $$ and balance my own cash drawer, which until balanced we couldnt go home plus lots of other duties.... Maybe she could try and negotiate the wage or maybe she could just take the job but still look out for better paying ones.

[crazybigal]

take it! i used to live in queenstown and pay rates in that part of the country are third world!! fuckn rich people screwing the not so fortunate!

[The Pastor]

Shit man im only on 11.57 I started on 8 bucks/hr. Bin working 3 years now. i actually get 14/hr cos of all the holiday pay etc so check and see if the 14/hr is holiday pay incluseive?

[MattRSK]

The missus has been offered a part-time shop job. She'll be expected to open, sell, do stock control and close the shop, unsupervised, two days a week. She's been told that the going rate where we are (Wanaka) is $14/hr.

My stock response in any such situation is to say "thanks, I'll have a think about it" and then ask later if the rate is negotiable, because those who don't ask never get. But I don't know whether $14/hr really is the going rate, or if it's a low-ball offer given to a couple of wet-eared rubes like us. It is a sight over minimum wage.

I suspect that there's a lot of variation across these fair isles, but can anyone offer advice?

TIA.

I wish I got that much. I work 50+ hours a week and I am on far less than that.