 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
This site will recognize businesses and organizations in six northeast Georgia counties that are Worker Friendly. |
9. Could this project actually do more harm than good? Possibly. We won’t know until we try. Logically, however, we can’t see how it can lead to things getting worse than they are. Unlike other “living wage” campaigns, the goal of our campaign is to change consumers. As individual and corporate consumers, we are offering to pay local companies more for their goods and services so they can afford to offer good working conditions, wages and benefits. We believe this will ultimately result in an improved bottom line as turnover and training costs are lowered, employee education improves and work stress is reduced. This approach should also minimize the potential risk that very low-wage earners will be disproportionately affected by this project. Realistically, some jobs will always pay less than others. And, unless you live in Lake Wobegon, it is not statistically possible for every earner to make “above average” wages. We believe that entry level workers deserve a basic wage and benefit package that allows them to be economically self-sufficient; physically and psychologically healthy; and to be able to nurture and care for their dependent family members without inordinate stress. We are willing to put our money where our values are. Will some businesses close because we choose to spend our money differently or to buy fewer goods because they cost more? Probably. But the money isn’t going anywhere. We may buy fewer products if we have to pay more for them. But the employees of the companies we support potentially have more money to spend in our community. The money may be spent differently, but our hope is that it stays here in our local communities. Companies come and go all the time. That is the nature of business and the nature of change. What we want to see is that those employers that remain offer good working conditions with adequate wages and benefits and that these businesses and organizations thrive because we, the consumers, are willing to pay the higher prices needed to support the “American Dream” for all employees. We believe we have not totally lost the American Dream—we’ve just misplaced it. We believe in the goodness of the American people and American business. If you agree with us, welcome aboard! |