While Gov. Kathy Hochul, lawmakers and activists wrangle over whether the state’s new $14.20 an hour minimum wage should be indexed to inflation, countless businesses are paying well above that simply to attract employees.
The Oneida Indian Nation, which operates the Turning Stone casino and other gaming facilities in central New York, is in that camp and may be upping the odds.
In an effort to attract between 20 and 30 more cooks and dishwashers, it is offering a starting wage of $20 an hour for entry-level cooks and $18.50 for dishwashers.
The 30 percent increase means a new cook can earn $40,000 annually with benefits such as a 401K on top of that.
