Minimum wage minimizes workers.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

The minimum wage hike to $15 an hour in Seattle, Wash., has hurt workers, according to studies by the University of California, San Diego, and University of Washington. The average worker is losing $125 a month, maintains the UW study, while the UC research shows that minimum wage increases are responsible for 14% of the job losses since 2006.

Rob Wilson, president of Employco USA, Westmont, Ill., is not surprised. "Past numbers show that increasing the minimum wage has a direct and negative impact not only on businesses, but on workers themselves."

Furthermore, "only 1.8% of Americans earn minimum wage. The reality is that most companies endeavor to pay a competitive wage to lure talent and ensure employee loyalty. However, certain...