Dispatch: Certified Living Wage Employer
The Niagara Poverty Reduction Network is pleased to announce that Dispatch has become a certified living wage employer.
Opened in March 2019 by Chef Adam Hynam-Smith and Tamara Jensen, Dispatch is a 40-seat fine dining restaurant located in downtown St. Catharines. They currently employ six full time and four part time staff. Dispatch is part of a growing movement to empower hospitality teams to succeed in their careers while enjoying the professional respect they deserve. This approach allows the Dispatch team to provide exceptional service and hospitality without the need for their guests to offer a gratuity. Dispatch is the first full-service restaurant in Ontario to become a certified living wage employer.
“Our team is at the core of our guest experience, and we are fortunate to employ ambitious individuals who have invested in their careers just as any other respected profession. Providing a living wage helps ensure our team can continue to thrive in their chosen industry while working with us at Dispatch,” says Tamara Jensen.
“We are delighted to see the growing number of employers in Niagara who see the benefits of offering a living wage and we hope this group continues to grow,” says Glen Walker, Chair of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network.
A living wage reflects what earners need to be paid based on the actual costs of living and being included in the community. A living wage is not the same as the legislated minimum wage. It is a voluntary commitment that employers can make to compensate directly-employed and contract- employed full-time and part-time workers. The 2018 living wage for Niagara region has been calculated to be $17.99/hour. If an employers’ total compensation package includes benefits such as dental and prescription drugs, the living wage can be lowered by about $1.50/hour. Learn more about Niagara’s living wage at www.wipeoutpoverty.ca
Niagara-area employers who are interested in becoming Living Wage certified can contact the Ontario Living Wage Network for more information at http://www.ontariolivingwage.ca/
