Pictured left to right are BBBSG Executive Director Mike Treadgold, BBBSG Board President Matt Nelson, and Jen Terry, Assistant Coordinator at the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph (BBBSG) has been recognized and certified as a Living Wage Employer, making a commitment to support its staff above the city’s assessed minimum compensation deemed necessary to cover a family’s basic expenses and participate in their community.
The certification program, facilitated by the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination in conjunction with the Ontario Living Wage Network, requires employers to make an annual commitment to guarantee that staff compensation meets or exceeds the prescribed living wage rate, which is calculated based on regular monthly expenses incurred by a family of four with two (full-time) working adults and two children. In November 2018, the living wage in Guelph-Wellington was increased by $0.40 from its previous hourly rate to $16.90/hour. Statistics Canada, various provincial ministries and other local organizations contribute data to help determine a city’s necessary living wage.
The city’s largest youth mentoring organization believes that by investing in its staff and making an ongoing commitment towards supporting their individual well-being, workplace culture will be enhanced, and the quality of services and programs offered to local youth in need will remain consistent and impactful.
“We are extremely fortunate to have such a talented and passionate staff team, who dedicate their lives towards the betterment of children in our community,” said Michael Treadgold, BBBSG’s Executive Director. “In order to maintain the highest level of quality mentoring programs, we felt it imperative to ensure that our staff feels empowered and supported by the organization. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph has a positive reputation in this community that we are committed to upholding, and we believe that this starts with the people who work here.”
Certified organizations are recognized in one of three categories: Supporter, Leader or Champion. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph has been recognized as a “Champion,” having all full-time and part-time employees earning a living wage, as well as externally contracted employees that provide services on a regular basis. 33 other local employers have already signed on to the program, supporting more than 2,500 employees.
The Ontario Living Wage Network asserts that the benefits of paying a living wage include increased employee productivity, morale and loyalty; increased retention and reduced turnover costs; reduced absenteeism and medical costs; increased positive brand association, and expanded economic activity.
Agency Update:
In November 2019, Guelph’s assessed Living Wage was increased to $17.00/hour. As a registered Living Wage Employer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph continues to make any necessary changes to its staff compensation structures to reflect annual changes to the local Living Wage. We are proud to be a part of this initiative and we are committed to supporting the people who make up our outstanding staff team. -MT