The Lakefield Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) has become a certified living wage employer, the 15th workplace in Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes region to receive certification from the Ontario Living Wage Network and the first in Selwyn Township.
Located halfway between Peterborough and Lakefield on County Road 29, LAWS provides care and shelter to hundreds of animals in need every year.
It is the latest employer in the animal welfare sector to become living-wage certified and joins only seven others in the province.
Lyndsay Lisson-De Ell, director of operations at LAWS, shared why becoming certified was an important step for the animal welfare society.
“At LAWS, everything we do is rooted in compassion, respect, and care,” stated Lisson-De Ell in a media release.
“That applies not only to the animals we serve, but also to the people who make our work possible. Becoming a living wage employer was a natural extension of those values. We believe everyone deserves to be paid fairly for their time and talent. Work should not come at the cost of being able to afford the basic necessities of life.”
A living wage is calculated by the Ontario Living Wage Network to show how much a worker must earn per hour to make ends meet and enjoy “modest” participation in civic and cultural community.
In LAWS case, this means all workers must earn at least $21.65 per hour, which is the current living wage for the area.
“If you work full time, you should be able to make ends meet,” Craig Pickthorne, director of communications for the Ontario Living Wage Network, told kawarthaNOW.
Each year, the Ontario Living Wage Network calculates 10 local living wages, and they are always well above the minimum wage, even with its modest yearly increases, he noted.
There is no place in the province where people can work a full-time minimum wage job and cover all of their expenses, Pickthorne added.
“While anyone is free to refer to our rates, we also certify and recognize employers like (LAWS) who agree to pay it to all staff at least a living wage,” Pickthorne explained. “These employers must also adhere to any increases when released in November if they wish to remain certified.”
“Many employers raise the wage of some workers in order to qualify for certification, and this is a powerful tool to combat working poverty.”
In its establishment of living wages, the Ontario Living Wage Network’s calculations gather expenses for three types of households: two adults supporting two small children, a single parent, and a single adult. The results are then aggregated, and include any applicable government taxes, transfers, and benefits.
There are 10 regional living wage rates in Ontario, and LAWS falls under the rate for the east region.
“LAWS aspires to be a place where people not only find support, but also feel proud to work, volunteer, and contribute,” said Marilyn Strain, chair of the board of directors at LAWS. “Becoming a living wage employer is a meaningful step toward that vision.”
For more information about living wages in Ontario, including calculation documentation, a coverage map, and a certified employer directory, visit www.ontariolivingwage.ca.
