Smiths City to pay at least the decent wage

Smiths City Furniture and Appliance Retailer will pay all employees at least the living wage as of October

Photo: Google Maps

Nearly half of the company's 591 employees Smiths City General Manager, Roy Campbell, said the company had been considering a policy change since the beginning of the year, and that She earned an hourly rate of $ 20.55.

"Our people should not come to work worry about knowing they have enough to put food on the table, pay rent and electricity bill and respond to their basic needs.

Staff would also be allowed to use accumulated sick leave to take an additional day off work.

He said that the changes were to congratulate the staff who kept him in business for 100 years

. Earlier this year for not paying staff for 15-minute daily

In May, the Labor Court ordered Smiths City to pay all staff affected by unpaid meetings.

Mr. Campbell stated that his decision to pay the staff was divorced from the court order and that it was Although some may look on the other side and see things from this way, it's not at all linked.

He said that the increase in salary costs had been taken into account in his financial planning. First Union, which represents the retail workers, and the Living Wage Movement, said the Smiths City move was an example for other retailers, and further evidence that big box stores did not mean low wages. "Smiths City is another company that demonstrates that paying good wages is a good deal," said Annie Newman, Payroll Coordinator for Active Living. "19659005" Many profitable retailers in Aotearoa could give their staff wage increases significantly improving their lives without significantly affecting the bottom line. "