Should the federal minimum wage be increased to $15? Read two views and vote in our online poll. By John Laidler Globe Correspondent,Updated March 4, 2021, 5:10 p.m. Email to a Friend Florencio Hernandez As an essential worker, I support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. A higher minimum wage would help workers like me support our families as everyday expenses get higher. It would also be good for our economy. For 20 years, Iâve worked as a cleaner at the Natick Mall. My co-workers and I keep this popular mall clean and sanitary â more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. We risk our health and the health of our families going to work every day, but Iâm proud that Iâve done my part to keep shoppers and employees of the mall healthy during this hard time.