7. What should employers pay this year?

As supporters of the living wage, and acknowledging that the living wage may increase again next year if policy gains are not made in the other expense areas, current Living Wage Employers should continue to pay their 2018 living wage as an act of good faith. However, employers that apply for certification in 2019 will have only to meet the 2019 living wages.

We know our Living Wage Employers support their staff and contractors and want them to be able to have a decent quality of life. The living wage is still a bare bones amount that does not represent a luxurious lifestyle. The living wage includes conservative estimates for all expenses, and does not include costs such as debt payments, savings to buy a home, or an emergency fund. The costs of all family expenses other than child care are still increasing this year. Unless we see further progress on affordability, the living wage will again go up next year.

To learn more about becoming a certified Living Wage Employer, visit: http://www.livingwageforfamilies.ca/employers.

Show All Answers

1. 1. What are the living wages in BC?
2. 2. How is the 2019 living wage different from previous years?
3. 3. Why are the 2019 living wages lower?
4. 4. Are all families with children benefitting from these new child care investments?
5. 5. Why do you calculate for a family of four/ What about other family types?
6. 6. What about housing expenses?
7. 7. What should employers pay this year?
8. 8. What is the living wage/ How is the living wage calculated?
9. 9. Why is the living wage calculated every year?
10. 10. Why does the living wage vary across the province?
11. 11. How does the living wage compare to the minimum wage?
12. 12. Should the living wage become the minimum wage?
13. 13. Does this relate to the provincial government’s new legislation on employment standards?