"Becoming a Living Wage Employer allows us to demonstrate that we not only speak about our values, we live by them"

Dr. Peter Centre is thrilled to announce that we have been recertified as a Living Wage Employer for 2024. The certification is part of our broader organizational commitment to the humanity at the core of our work. Continuously committing to paying our staff and contracted workers a Living Wage is one of the ways we reflect our values, acknowledge the hard work that bolsters our organization, and recognize the financial realities of supporting oneself in the modern world.

Our Director of Finance, Matt Toma, shares:

“We are a value-based organization, and becoming a Living Wage Employer allows us to demonstrate that we not only speak about our values, we live by them. This is a real and tangible way to show this to our staff, the very people that we expect to implement our values each day. Our staff work with vulnerable individuals, often homeless or with insecure housing, and it’s difficult to ask staff to show compassion if they are worried about their own housing security.⁠"

An Interview with Han Jessa Padilla

Recently, we sat down with Han Jessa Padilla, Administrative Assistant here at Dr. Peter Centre, to talk about what the certification means to her. Her story is one of several—reflective, in many ways, of our collective experience. Here's what Han had to say: 

What does making a living wage mean to you?
           

"To me, making a living wage means earning enough income to cover basic needs while having a life. Necessities such as rent, food, phone bills, transportation costs, and insurance are met without financial distress. It also means getting out of the rat race."
 
How does making a living wage affect your life at and outside of work?

"Earning a living wage creates a positive cycle in a way that the benefits at work enhance the life outside work, and vice versa. Making a living wage affects my life at work in a way that I can focus better on my job without worrying about making ends meet.

"Before working for DPC, I was living from paycheque to paycheque, and I had to ask financial support from my parents because my income was not enough to cover all my necessities. I am grateful for DPC because they ensure that employees are compensated fairly.

"Additionally, I tend to be more productive and motivated to work. Outside of work, making a living wage affects my life in a way that I have started saving, being able to pursue new hobbies, and travel to different places. I have enjoyed a better work-life balance without compromising my physical and mental health."

Learn more about what it means to be a Living Wage Employer at Living Wage BC.