Lack of decent pay and so-so benefits have faced employees for years. Many employers chose to not offer better pay or decent pay increases. Some employees chose other employment, while some were stuck with employers sticking together to keep pay rates down in their community. Some employees going for an interview were already known by their employer for where they were headed.
Why did it take the pandemic for employers to rise to the occasion and offer better pay? There is a crunch when workers do not want to work for inadequate pay and insufficient benefits. Employees grabbed the extra $600 in unemployment and some just did not return to work. Where did all the employees go? The extra money ended and how are they surviving? Did they just find other work that paid better and gave more fulfillment? Refusing benefits in a new position is a gamble, with one needing higher pay and trusting they will not need expensive medical care.
When we are back on even keel from this pandemic, I hope the employment situation will bring and maintain better pay scales and better benefits for employees and workers who feel they are a part of a company, organization or business for cohesive work environments. Let’s move our country forward together.
Kath (Kathleen R.) Allen
Peterborough