We stumbled upon this article on one of our favourite websites Upworthy and wanted to share it with you. The lengthy title says it all: Gap Went for Fairer Pay Even Though the Rest of the Country Wasn’t Really Doing It? Cool.
Even though it’s talking about the US, we think the idea of paynig employees more, when not required to, is pretty darn cool. Take a look:
Because companies in America just plain aren’t required by law to pay employees more than minimum wage, many just plain don’t. These companies take advantage of the situation, and while their corporate profits go up, employee pay does not.
Recently, Gap joined some other great companies like Costco, Whole Foods, and In-N-Out Burger in voluntarily raising wages for their employees. Unlike some other large retailers, these companies don’t want their employees’ wages subsidized by the government. WAIT — WHAAAAT? Yeah, that’s right, big companies that don’t pay their employees a decent rate are essentially setting up those employees to rely on welfare to make up the difference. (McDonald’s and Walmart employees are on welfare BIG TIME, BTW.)
Try thinking of it this way: when companies pay their employees more, they are unburdening our nation’s debt. Following that logic, if all companies paid their employees a higher hourly rate, the United States would have less debt and happier people. You go, Gap.
Head to Upworthy and see for yourself, here.
