GUELPH, ON, Nov. 6, 2015 /CNW/ - The Guelph and Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination today launched its Living Wage Employer Recognition Program, and The Co-operators was pleased to be certified as a Living Wage Employer. The organization joins at the Leader level, meaning that all its full- and part-time employees in the area earn at least a Living Wage. The announcement was made today in Guelph, hometown of The Co-operators, as part of Living Wage Week.

The Living Wage reflects what employees need to earn on an hourly basis to meet a typical family's basic needs, based on the actual costs of living in a specific community. Each local Living Wage is calculated by local committees that may include community and business leaders, engaged citizens, academics and government representatives, based on guidelines in the Canadian Living Wage framework. The Co-operators is committed to paying a Living Wage to all corporate office employees across the country, as a Living Wage calculation is determined in those communities. 

"Becoming a Living Wage Employer aligns with co-operative principles and our mission, which is to contribute to the financial security of Canadians and their communities," said Bernie Mitchell, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources and Workplace Services for The Co-operators. "We believe in building a more equitable and inclusive society, in which everyone enjoys a standard of living that allows them to thrive."

The Co-operators, which has more than 4,300 employees across Canada, will aim to reach the Champion level in coming years. Long recognized as a very desirable workplace, The Co-operators is included on such prestigious lists as the 50 Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt.

About The Co-operators:

The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $40 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt; Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada; and the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations in Canada by Sustainalytics and Maclean's magazine. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.

SOURCE The Co-operators