Babylonian Talmud, Baba Metzia 83a
תלמוד בבלי, בבא מציעא פג.
צריכא, דטפא להו אאגרייהו. מהו דתימא, אמר להו: הא דטפאי לכו אאגרייכו - אדעתא דמקדמיתו ומחשכיתו בהדאי, קא משמע לן דאמרו ליה: האי דטפת לן - אדעתא דעבדינן לך עבידתא שפירתא.
We need [this example in the Mishnah specifying that local custom undermines an employer’s stipulation that workers begin early and stay late] for the case in which the employer raises the workers’ wages. In the case in which the employer says to them, “I raised your wages in order that you would begin work early and stay late,” they may reply, “You raised our wages in order that we would do better work.” [Soncino translation. Edited for gender neutrality]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. Why might the employer assume that if the workers' wages are raised, the implication is that they should stay longer?

2. What do you think of the workers' response to the employer's insinuation?

3. Do we pay people more today for better work? On what do we base wages in this country?

Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)