In covering the news and keeping the community informed, unfortunately we have to report a lot of bad news; but rest assured that every Friday throughout the summertime, when you tune into WCHL, we will have some good news to report to you! That’s because it is “Good News Friday!”
Presented by The Strowd on Franklin Street, and their Shag Dance Fridays!
Click here to listen to Ron Stutts broadcast this week’s ‘Good News Friday’ featured story.
Local Businesses are lining-up to offer a Living Wage!
According to Susan Romaine of the Orange County Living Wage Project, A ‘living wage’ is the minimum amount that a worker must earn to afford their basic necessities, without public or private assistance.
The key number to consider is that an individual must NOT spend more than 30% of their income on housing. That frees up the remaining 70% for living expenses such as transportation, food, medical and childcare.
Based on that, and other data, such as average rental and housing costs; the universal formula for a living wage for a 40-hour work week in Orange County projects to $12.75/hour without employer-provided health insurance, and $11.25/hour with employer-provided health insurance.
But a formula, and a living wage, do not mean anything without real-life application, and in Orange County, the buy-in and results have been incredible!
Since launching last October, over 75 local businesses and organizations, both private and public, have been certified by the Orange County Living Wage Project, many of those businesses gave raises to their employees to meet the certification standards, adding several hundred thousand dollars to their annual payrolls.
Michael Fogleman, owner of longtime downtown Carrboro automotive repair facility, F&F Automotive, was one of the first to get certified. He said that this program is extremely important to him, and if any business doesn’t offer a living wage, they are missing the mark, they’ll lose good employees and are only focusing on short term gain. Building a lasting business his father started in 1962, he understands that if he invests in his employees by providing a living wage, they in-turn, are happier, they give back, and ultimately make the business better.
Michael even advocates for other business to get certified. He passes out flyers to his customers, many still haven’t heard of the program, or if they have, are surprised an auto mechanic was one of the first to be certified!
For the full list of certified businesses that provide a living wage; You can visit OrangeCountyLivingWage.Org. Support them, and in turn, you support your community and the local economy.
Changing lives and bettering the community through a living wage; that’s our Good News Friday story of the week!
To read more Chapelboro.com and WCHL coverage of the Orange County Living Wage Project, click here, here, here, and here!
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