Program areas at Living Wage for Us
General program - Living wages build and demonstrate respect by rightly valuing the societal contributions made by those that create and maintain the fabric of our communities. Our strategy seeks to complement worker voice and celebrate employers who are leading the way, uniting people around this common, positive, message. In an increasingly polarized america, it is a nonpartisan strategy appealing to both employers and hard-working people from all walks of life affording a decent quality of life for working families. To achieve these aims we provide data, research, analysis, guidance, and certification around Living Wage payment. We work with all types of organizations to better incentivize and remove barriers to Living Wage payment. In our first two years of operation, we have directly gotten more than $250 million directly into the pockets of workers through Wage and benefits increases as employers move toward Living Wage payment.
Membership fees - member companies work with Living Wage for Us to understand gaps to a Living Wage from tehir totao remuneration structure and to devise plans to close those gaps. Members may become certified or might be employers that don't yet qualify for Living Wage certifictaion but would like to support the movement on an ongoing basis and improve their pay structures toward paying all workers a Living Wage.
Consulting fees - in alignment with our general programs and mission, we often help other nonprofits, unions, labor rights advocates understand the Living Wage framework and incorporate consistent Living Wage efforts. Much of this engagement is unpaid, and part of our community building and advocacy. Occasionally some groups need a more detailed engagement that takes considerably more staff time. In these cases they contract Us for advice, and guidance, and help them build their own Living Wage efforts.