Wilfrid Laurier University
PAE-11: Sustainable Compensation

A living wage is the amount of money a single adult working full-time would need to live above the poverty line. Opportunities Waterloo Region, an anti-poverty group, has calculated a living wage of $13.62 an hour based on the local cost of food, housing, transportation and other expenses. Waterloo Region is currently considering a living-wage policy for its regional employees and contractors who do work for the region, but the policy has not yet been approved. The University does not specifically measure employee wage rates against the local living wage rate, however we do compare our wage rates to other similar positions in the market on a regular basis to ensure we are fair and competitive and make adjustments as required. The large majority of our employees (about 98%) are paid well above what may be defined as the “living wage rate” of $13.62/hour in Waterloo Region. All our administrative/professional staff, faculty, managers, grounds/ custodial/trades staff, and full-time food services staff are paid well above this rate. There is a small number of part-time food services staff (currently 21 employees total) who, in the first 2 years of employments, are paid between $12.48 and $13.50 per hour. Their wages increase to over $14.00/hr after 48 months of employment. There are also a small number of proctors and markers who are not students and who are paid less than $13.62, but this is a casual position that is often held in addition to other employment.