At Massy Books in Vancouver, staff get sick days, benefits and wages that are based on the cost of living in one the country’s most expensive cities.
“I’m responsible for paying somebody a wage that’s going to allow them to pay their bills and to support their families,” said Patricia Massy, proprietor of the Indigenous owned-and-operated bookstore, which specializes in the works of underrepresented authors.
Massy Books is one of a growing number of businesses and organizations signing on to become what’s known as living wage employers — committing to paying wages corresponding to the costs of things like rent, food,