5 Things / A Fair Share
This week I learned about a nonprofit organization near Seattle that established a minimum base salary of $70,000. This meant that some of the 24 employees received a $20,000 raise. Many years ago, I worked for nonprofit organizations, and I can say with confidence that valuing employees in this way will go a long way towards keeping them energized, especially since many of them are BIPOC and work two jobs.
I particularly loved this quote from Executive Director Sean Goode, who was initially very resistant to the minimum salary idea (that originated with employees):
“We live in the richest country in the world. And we live in one of the richest places in the country. We are constantly talking about a housing crisis. Meanwhile, paying people at rates that leave them one paycheck away from being unhoused. We can’t continue to only address those who are living on the street today, we have to also address those that are working hard today, but are one paycheck away because they’re failing to make a living wage.”
I'm currently reading a wonderful book called Our Fair Share that provides another solution to this inequality.
Here are the other good vibes I found this week:
Prominent American women will now be featured on U.S. quarters, including Maya Angelou, the first Black women to appear on a quarter. Astronaut Sally Ride; actress Anna May Wong; suffragist and politician Nina Otero-Warren; and Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, will also be on quarters.
On a similar note, Journalist and civil rights leader Ida B. Wells will be honored with a Barbie in the Prominent Women Series (which already includes Maya Angelou).
This representation matters because it's long overdue...and these are simply more places young women and BIPOC can see possibility models. While this is far from enough, and Tubman on the quarter is a far cry from her promised spot atop the $20 during the Obama administration, progress is progress.
Upwork has announced that all of its employees may work remotely forever, with an option to come into the office. This matters because employees, especially those who are caregivers, value flexibility, and because a 100% remote policy enables the company to expand its hiring pool without geographic limitations.
Leadership in action: there's a reason Best Buy has a low turnover rate for its front line employees. I found this article interesting (written by former Best Buy CEO), especially how managers coach front line employees by understanding each employee's unique sense of purpose. This matters because front line employees are the face of the brand, yet are often overlooked and underdeveloped.