C1 Bank in Tampa commits to paying livable wages. Strange, Gasland always says that paying a fair wage will drive companies out of business, and that community banks can't compete anymore. Even stranger how BOA, Wells, and the like can't afford to do the same as 1/3 of bank tellers need public assistance. 

CEO Trevor Burgess said his incentive was two-fold: to help recruit the best employees and to reflect the bank's core values.

"We thought it was the ethical thing to do," he said. "We wanted to make sure the people who work for us are benefiting from our success and can earn a living wage."

Moreover, it makes good business sense in recruiting and retaining the highest-quality workers, Burgess said. "We really think it's an investment that will pay back in spades."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/st-petersburgs-c1-bank-ups-pay-to-living-wage-rate-for-all-employees/2172023

the government dictating what salaries/wages should be does more harm. The lowest wage I offer is for answering the phones and that is $12 an hour plus full benefits. That is what the market for labor requires I pay to get a good employee there.

All that would be accomplished by mandating ALL wages have a minimum rate of $12 an hour is that my teenage boys would not be able to find summer jobs because nobody would hire them (and their (edited for the they're, their. there error!) absent skill set) at such a high wage.

I personally think there is a competitive advantage for companies to pay employees well..they get better employees that way. But it should be the market that does it, not a "one size fits all" government mandate that will have unforeseen negative effects. Like teenage unemployment.