U of G students with jobs share their opinions on the minimum wage increase and the stresses that come with finding a balance between school and work
On Oct. 1, Ontario’s general minimum wage increased by 10 cents, making the new rate $14.35 an hour. Wages for students under 18 and servers also increased by a dime, raising their wages to $13.50 and $12.55 respectively.
These changes to minimum wage rates are tied to the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the cost of goods and services for Ontarians. It has been noted by Statistics Canada that from August 2020 to August 2021 the cost of essential goods has risen. In 2020 the average Canadian family spent $12,667 on food, but the latest CPI report predicts that food prices will increase by three to five per cent in 2021. Additionally, other goods and service costs have already increased, such as gasoline prices by 32.5 per cent, health and personal care by 2.9 per cent, and recreational costs by 2.2 per cent.
Excluding rent, a single person living in Guelph has an estimated monthly expense of $1256.35. In fact, the cost of rent alone takes up 55.5 per cent of the total expenses for the average person; a one bedroom apartment averages at $1569.23 per month. The cost of living is not cheap and it requires most students at U of G to have full or part-time job while studying.
Guelph’s high employment rate can be seen as beneficial to students who attend U of G and are looking for work. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, there was an increase in job availability in Guelph this fall, as 400 full-time positions opened up in September 2021. However, finding a balance between work and school can be overwhelming. Is a minimum wage increase, paired with more job availability, enough to satisfy students? Or are they still disappointed by the outcome?
— Ashley Godley
Emily Gibson, a fourth-year English major, is a full-time student who also works part-time as a server.
She notes that, in theory, the concept of raising minimum wage is helpful, but she wonders how motivational a 10 cent increase really is for students.
“I think it is nice that the government reevaluated our minimum wage, and even though 10 cents isn’t a lot, I think it’s still 10 cents we didn’t have before. But because it is so little of an increase, I would argue that it doesn’t motivate students as much.”
Gibson also questions how sustainable it is for students to support themselves on minimum wage alone.
“I know that $14.35 is probably not enough if you didn’t already have savings. If I had the choice, the minimum wage should be $15. In the summer, that was what I made and I felt like it was a good amount.”
Ashley Godley, a third-year studio art major, also says they think the amount should be higher.
“In a dream world, we would get $16 or $17 an hour. It would at least make some people feel more comfortable.”
Godley started off the semester working 10 to 15 hours a week but quickly found that to be too overwhelming. They knew they had to keep their job, so they decided to reduce their commitment to eight or nine hours a week. They noted that this has helped, but mixing work with 25 hours of school a week has definitely brought some stress.
“My grades and academic performance would have been affected if I didn’t reduce my hours. I think there is such a financial burden placed on students. We have to pay for so much.”
Godley notes that mental health can be negatively impacted by the pressure to balance school and work. They say that most students are in a position where they have no choice but to work and study at the same time, and that this can put a strain on students’ overall mental well-being. Godley also says that the counselling system on campus at U of G should be improved to deal with this issue. Although sympathetic towards how difficult it may be to organize counselling for a large number of students, Godley states they have had a negative experience trying to access counselling on campus, due to some barriers they faced.
“Having access to a therapist easily is something that I think should be essential, especially since people are prioritizing their mental health more than ever right now. We have been through a lot.”
Godley has found it difficult to navigate the stress of working and studying, but they ultimately feel glad to receive an increase in pay. Moreover, Godley feels privileged to even have the chance to obtain an education.
Julieanna Clarke, a third-year human kinetics major, works 10 to 12 hours a week as a server while also balancing 20 to 25 hours a week of school. She is also a commuting student, as she decided to live at home during the pandemic. She misses being on campus, but she is grateful to have the opportunity to save money.
Clarke initially felt motivated upon hearing that there was going to be a wage increase, but after learning it was only 10 cents extra, this feeling turned into disappointment.
“Even if students were to work 40 hours a week, that is only four extra dollars a week,” said Clarke. “Does that really make up for the increase in price? Even rent for a student in Guelph is upwards of $600 to $700 a month for a house, and if you want an apartment it’s over $1000. So, is an extra $12 a month really going to do anything? Plus most students aren’t even able to work 40 hours a week; students are usually working 40 hours a month.”
Additionally, finding a workplace that understands a student’s needs is something Gibson believes to be important. She feels lucky to have a job with flexible hours and to be working with others that are aware of the stresses that come with being a student. Currently, she works 18 hours a week on top of a full course load, and she feels that finding a balance between these commitments was tricky at first.
— Julieanna Clarke
Gibson, like Clarke, also lives at home, and has the ability to save money because of it. Though this eases some stress, she notes that working can add a lot of weight to any student’s routine.
“As an upper-year student and as someone who is at the end of their undergraduate career, I feel that now I have a good routine and a good work-school-social life balance. But, I see how hard it would be for the first-year students who are just trying to get used to campus, and all of the COVID changes, while also balancing a new job.”
As Ontario continues to show improvements in the fight against COVID-19, Gibson and Clarke are grateful that there are so many jobs available right now. Overall, Gibson feels that more opportunities have been created as a response to the pandemic and she is hopeful that a lot of these options can help relieve students of some of their financial stresses. However, Clarke feels for other students who were receiving financial aid throughout the pandemic but soon may no longer have that option.
“A lot of students were eligible for CERB and now that the pandemic is nearing an end, some of that help might not be available anymore. So getting back into life where students actually have to work and balance school at the same time can be a lot for us,” said Clarke.
Overall, Clarke feels thankful that she has found a balance between school and work. She does feel the pressures of her busy semester, but is hopeful that her schedule will continue to get easier as the year progresses.
A version of this article appeared in print in The Ontarion issue 191.3 on Oct. 28, 2021.
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