Young Electric is Niagara’s Latest Certified Living Wage Employer

St. Catharines-based Young Electric is a full service Electrical Contractor; they work with customers throughout the Niagara region to provide a range of residential and commercial electrical services. Whether your job is large or small, they are here to make sure it’s done safely, on time, on budget and to a professional standard. Our customers love working with them because of their commitment to providing top-level quality and customer service. Young Electric currently has 7 employees.

“We became a Living Wage employer because we feel it is important to ensure our team members are able to have a prosperous life away from work. We take great pride in being supportive members of our community and for us it makes sense that we would also support our employees that live within those communities. Making sure our employees are financially stable is important to us as an employer,” says Rick Young, Owner, Young Electric.

“We’re pleased to have on-going support from local employers who recognize the value and benefits of paying at least a living wage. Paying a living wage is direct action to address poverty and helps people afford the cost of living,” says Matt Cuthbert, Vice Chair, 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 current living wage rate for Niagara region is $18.90/hour.

Learn more about Niagara’s living wage at www.wipeoutpoverty.ca. Niagara-area employers interested in becoming living wage certified can contact the Ontario Living Wage Network for more information at www.ontariolivingwage.ca