On Being A Living Wage Employer
- Roots & Rivers Team
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
A living wage is the hourly rate a worker must earn to meet their basic expenses and participate fully in their community. Living wage is calculated using the real cost of living including expenses like rent, food, transportation, and childcare in a given community. We believe fair pay is foundational to a healthy workplace and to healthy communities. Since 2023, we have been certified as a Living Wage Employer by Living Wage BC.
At the time of our certification, all of our employees were already making a living wage for the communities in which they lived. What becoming a Living Wage Employer did for us was to:
demonstrate ongoing commitment to our employees, which includes wages that allow them to build financial sustainability
encourage us to continue thinking critically and strategically about wages
connect us to a community of 450+ like-minded businesses who are also certified
In spring 2025, we partnered with ReImagine Work to develop our first Compensation Philosophy, to inform a more equitable, transparent, and collaborative approach to how we compensate our staff team. This process included a team-wide review of our jobs with a focus on the different ways each team member contributes to internal and external work, the development of a set of guiding principles, and a salary grid grounded in market research and Living Wage BC standards. This work is ongoing, and feeds into a discussion about how we fairly compensate our ecosystem of independent consultants and other non-staff contributors to our mission.
We know that paying a living wage doesn't just benefit our team, it strengthens the local economy and helps families thrive. We're proud to be part of a movement that's making a difference across the communities our employees call home, from Vancouver to Waterloo, Montreal, and Halifax.
Together, we can create a fairer, more sustainable future for everyone. If your organization is thinking through its own approach to wages and compensation, we'd love to hear from you. If you're curious to find out more about living wage in your community, head to the Living Wage Canada website here.
