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Author Topic: wages in the charitable sector
rural - Francesca
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 14858

posted 05 June 2008 06:57 AM      Profile for rural - Francesca   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Motivation:
Yesterday I got a posting from the head office of the charity I work for, for 2 jobs in Calgary. I sent them off to a friend of mine in Calgary joking I was going to move in with her.

She replied back that her daughter was making more money at Tim Horton's than these positions were paying. I hadn't even opened the attachment to really read them.

So the positions were paying $14 and her daughter was making $15 at Tim Horton's.

Now I realize that the employment situation in Calgary is driving up the 'fast-food' wage (which is a good thing) so this would not be the norm.

Monday night at our labour council meeting, there was a summary of some of the concerns labour council presidents had brought to a meeting, and one was that thier relevant charity had not hired a labour rep because they didn't want to pay the significantly higher wages that the council was demanding this person be paid, because then the whole office would have to get revamped, salary wise.

But it got me thinking about charities and wages.

We all hate to see the CEO or Executive Director of a charity with large salaries (present company excepted, I'd love to see myself with an obscenely large pay check ) but staffing and such overhead is always one of the largest expenses of a charity.

So I was interested in feedback on how they perceive the entitlement of the charitable sector vs say manufacturing or energy etc?


From: the backyard | Registered: Dec 2007  |  IP: Logged
remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289

posted 05 June 2008 07:09 AM      Profile for remind     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Depends on the charity.
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004  |  IP: Logged
rural - Francesca
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 14858

posted 05 June 2008 07:13 AM      Profile for rural - Francesca   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by remind:
Depends on the charity.

why?


From: the backyard | Registered: Dec 2007  |  IP: Logged
bigcitygal
Volunteer Moderator
Babbler # 8938

posted 05 June 2008 07:34 AM      Profile for bigcitygal     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Over the years I've been a relief worker and I've been an ED-equivalent in charities/non-profits that are service providers. Across the board (from entry-level to big cheese) charities and non-profits pay less than the private sector/for-profit businesses. Even though the majority of most service providers' budgets goes to salaries.

Why? At the registered charity I worked for most recently, the entire staff team provided the direct service and need to get paid, of course.

High salaries for EDs and other managers in the charitable/non-profit sector are generally explained/ rationalized by saying higher skill levels, dealing with donors/funders and high-level schmoozy people, job tasks that include very important reports that must get done or the funding is pulled. Bla bla.

[thread drift]
I mentioned a book called "The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Non-Profit Industrial Complex" a while ago on babble, and want to mention it again. Excellent read for anyone who's committed to working in the NPIC, as I am, somewhat. It's very hardassed and smart and radical and has case studies and examples of alternatives to getting embroiled in the "funder pays, you dance to the tune" model that non-profits have become in the US (and Canada was well). We can start another thread if peeps are interested in more info, or PM me.
[/thread drift]


From: It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent - Q | Registered: Apr 2005  |  IP: Logged
Pogo
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2999

posted 05 June 2008 07:49 AM      Profile for Pogo   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
My limited experience with charities is that they are very concerned about the salaries they are paying. That said their costs are routinely scrutinized by funders which puts pressure on them to keep wages at the lower end of the scale.

People in management positions in social agencies are by and large underpayed compared to the market.

There is the odd organization that is usually volunteer run where the salary for employees is quite low. The staff work is unfairly compared to volunteer work "Why should we pay x a fair salary when y is doing it for free".

Change has happened in my experience when people shine a light on the issue. Charities and social agencies are ran by people who want to do good, they will usually adjust their attitude when it is brought to their attention.


From: Richmond BC | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged

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