Tandy Jones, a farmer and business owner of 36 years from Chatham County, wrote of climate change’s impact on his farm in a recent Op-Ed piece in the News & Observer: “With ever-changing conditions, it’s increasingly difficult to plan and prepare.”

When I began exercising regularly, I had a decision to make. Was I going to keep buying inexpensive sneakers and suffer through foot pain and high-cost medical care, or invest in a more expensive shoe that protects my feet and last longer? After wasting a lot of time and money on low-cost shoes, I finally got wise and chose the latter. Albeit small in comparison, my dilemma is similar to a more significant issue that many businesses face when considering whether to support raising the minimum wage.

In fact, the benefits for businesses of raising the minimum wage far outweigh the costs.