Niagara has another certified living wage employer.
The Niagara Poverty Reduction Network say the new restaurant Dispatch in downtown St.Catharines is the latest company to offer a living wage to its 10 employees.
The restaurant opened just this month making it the first full-service restaurant in Ontario to become a certified living wage employer.
Co-owner Tamara Jensen says "Our team is at the core of our guest experience, and we are fortunate to employ ambitious individuals who have invested in their careers just as any other respected profession. Providing a living wage helps ensure our team can continue to thrive in their chosen industry while working with us at Dispatch.”
“We are delighted to see the growing number of employers in Niagara who see the benefits of offering a living wage and we hope this group continues to grow,” says Glen Walker, Chair of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network.
A living wage is not the same as the legislated minimum wage, it is a voluntary commitment that employers can make to compensate directly-employed and contract-employed full-time and part-time workers.
The 2018 living wage for Niagara region has been calculated to be $17.99/hour.
If an employers’ total compensation package includes benefits such as dental and prescription drugs, the living wage can be lowered by about $1.50/hour. Learn more about Niagara’s living wage at www.wipeoutpoverty.ca