Integris continues to impress me. You can tell they’re invested in our region/city. They invest in upgrading buildings in PG, as well as other initiatives. Nicely done Integris! That will help steal some staff from the banks haha

I agree, a good local organization with excellent service standards for their members/owners. Profits are re-invested in the communities serviced by the credit union and they provide competitive financial services. For a variety of reasons, our business deals with five different financial institutions in Prince George and Integris compares very favourably with the others.

“Bird says Integris will work with its business customers to bring them to under the certified Living Wage company umbrella by analyzing the customer’s wage and benefits package, and if that package falls short of the Living Wage in the communities mentioned, Integris will top up the amount.”

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Integris will top up the amount? Where will they get the money to do that?

Good question, Axman!

I’m just going to clarify. What we will do is look at our contractors (those we hire) and what they pay their staff. Using an example, we often use caterers for various events. If they pay $13/hour and we decide to hire them, we would insist they pay the Living Wage by making up the difference (i.e., we would pay the $3.82 to make it equal the Living Wage). To ensure we can afford to pay for this, we would budget paying all third-party vendors $16.82/hour as a minimum to ensure we can meet the objective of remaining a Living Wage Employer.

Additionally, we have agreed to work with other businesses to help them determine if they meet the Living Wage requirement and become certified. In that case, we’d contribute knowledge… not financial resources.

Feel free to email me if you have any other questions or concerns: acastley@integriscu.ca

Take care!
Alex

Think it was a miss-print or they won the lotto.

I’m just going to clarify. What we will do is look at our contractors (those we hire) and what they pay their staff. Using an example, we often use caterers for various events. If they pay $13/hour and we decide to hire them, we would insist they pay the Living Wage by making up the difference (i.e., we would pay the $3.82 to make it equal the Living Wage). To ensure we can afford to pay for this, we would budget paying all third-party vendors $16.82/hour as a minimum to ensure we can meet the objective of remaining a Living Wage Employer.

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That makes a lot more sense. I had visions of every minimum wage paying business flocking to Integris for a 6 dollar top up!

Integris is the epitome of a good corporate citizen. I never question their commitment to this community, because they continually demonstrate it by investing in it in various ways. The day after the Lakeland explosion and fire, they offered loan deferrals to their customers who were affected by that tragedy. I’ve since asked my (big 5 chartered)bank if they have a loan deferral program for extraordinary life events; there was just a lot of dead air, before the awkward no came.

I’ve since become a customer of Integris’ and I look forward to doing more business with them in the future.

I think the “living wage” goal is a little ambitious and I can foresee some significant challenges with administering the wage top-up in relation to 3rd party wages, but good on you for stepping up and making that commitment. I hope it pays dividends for you – literally! In an era of unrestrained capitalism, Marx should be rolling over in his grave with a voluntary commitment such as this, from a bank no less. Bravo.

Still a bit unclear. If an employer pays 13.00 an hour they have to add 20% aprox for CPP 4.95 EI 2.66 holiday pay 4.0 stats about 4.0 then wcb ? Depends on the industry. So 13.00 costs employer 15.60 per hour. So when you say living wage are you saying you will increase them to 16.82 plus 20% for additional costs or 16.82 all in. This is important because there’s a few caterer employees thinking they’re getting a 3.82 raise and it’s more like maybe a dollar. 14.00 an hour costs an employer 16.80 with just government required benefits.

Oh. And I think it’s great what you’re doing but a lot of people don’t understand employers have to pay 20% over and above the wage. Really the base rate for the living wage is 14.00 per hour. So the proposed 15.00 minimum wage is greater than living wage if I read this right.

Yup as usual the same ol complainers – instead of praising the bank for higher wages, you all complain. well done!!

Hi ski51,

Great question. The logistics of that part haven’t been addressed yet as this is all new to us, but they have been considered. Ultimately, we would make up the difference – I was just making the example simple. In some cases, the additional costs might be negotiated to be split. Sometimes we would cover them. Depends on the situation. When we are dealing with a vendor, we pay a dollar amount and aren’t directly responsible for paying CPP etc. That will be a challenge moving forward to make sure the “topping-up” goes to the employees. Keep in mind, this difference is only accounting for the hours they’ve worked for us.

I have to be relatively vague in my response as we still need to work out those details. We have until October 2016 to have everything completely organized (our goal is much sooner, of course).

Cheers,
Alex

A good move, I’m impressed. The company obviously cares about employees.

Also a smart move.
This decision will attract new business from people and companies who want to be associated with a progressive and fair employer, a company that is brave enough to ‘buck’ the status quo.
metalman.

Sounds like a half cocked idea that it more a publicity stunt than having much meaning or details. I am in support of this kind of actions provided it it followed though and policies are publicly posted to our members and public. Living wages are important and I hope they walk the talk in all they do.