New York Employers Encouraged to Exhibit Integrity

Tompkins County Workers’ Center in Ithaca, New York offers a Living Wage Employer Certification for businesses who wish to publically commit to certain criteria regarding the treatment and compensation of their employees.  The employers agree to pay at least $11.67 per hour (or the current Tompkins County Living Wage rate) to all regular employees, offer them partially paid health insurance, and be free of health and safety violations.

The Workers’ Center website points out that the benefit to employers goes beyond just knowing that they are “doing the right thing”.  The website affirms:

“By paying your employees fairly, you take advantage of the service/profit cycle. When you invest in staff rewards, both tangible and intangible, their satisfaction comes out in the level of service they provide your customers. These happy customers will keep coming back, and they’ll spread the word about your superior products and services.  Our community will prosper and that benefits everyone!”

Over 70 businesses have signed the agreement, which allows the Workers’ Center to recognize and reward those responsible employers and also provides incentives to other employers in the community to step up and do the right thing.