Minimum Wage Raise Puts More in Student Employees’ Pockets

The rise in minimum wage in New York from $9 to $11 an hour  is directly affecting student employees of Yeshiva University.

This wage increase, implemented by New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, is part of a gradual plan for incremental increase in minimum wage in New York every year until 2021.

Student employees of Yeshiva University, specifically those who are not on a stipend type of payment plan, are reaping the benefits of the increased minimum wage. According to Sheri Young of Human Resources, the increase in pay was effective as of January 1, 2017, and student employees effectively saw a $2-an-hour raise from their previous salary of $9 an hour.

The wage raise affected many students at Yeshiva University. Student employees currently make up approximately 550 students, or 11 percent of the total student body.  The major departments hiring students that were affected by the wage raise include Athletics, Dining Services and the Phonathon. Peer tutors, teaching assistants, and office workers were affected as well.

The general feeling among the affected student employees is one of pleasant surprise. Esti Kuperman, a sophomore student employee at Stern, remarked: “I am pleasantly surprised with the raise in pay that the student employees are being given. Working in Phonathon is not always easy so it is nice to have a little more to show for my hard work.”

Following this trend toward higher wages in New York City, student employees can expect another $2 raise next year.