The Niagara Poverty Reduction Network is pleased to announce that MarkMeldrum.com has become a certified living wage employer at the Champion level.

Mark Meldrum is an approved prep provider for Levels I, II and III of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program. They currently employ seven full time staff.

“We chose to become a certified living wage employer because we can… if you can do it, then you should do it”, said Tara Willard, Director of Operations, MarkMeldrum.com.

“We are pleased to see many local employers who recognize the value and benefits of paying at least a living wage. Paying a living wage takes direct action to address poverty and to help people afford their cost of living expenses,” says Aidan Johnson, Chair of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network.

A living wage reflects what earners need to be paid based on the actual costs of living and being included in the community. A living wage is not the same as the legislated minimum wage. It is a voluntary commitment that employers can make to compensate directly-employed and contract-employed full-time and part-time workers. The 2019 living wage for Niagara region has been calculated to be $18.12/hour. If an employer’s total compensation package includes benefits such as dental and prescription drugs, the living wage can be lowered by at least $1.00/hour.

Learn more about Niagara’s living wage at www.wipeoutpoverty.ca. Niagara-area employers interested in becoming living wage certified can contact the Ontario Living Wage Network for more information at www.ontariolivingwage.ca