Markham Child Care Staffing Agency Raises Pay Despite Cancelled Provincial Wage Hike

TORONTO, March 03, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Sentient HR, the trusted choice when it comes to staffing solutions for child care centres in the GTA, announced that they were raising their wages. At a time when there is a trend to roll back or freeze wages, some businesses are making a commitment to their employees by raising their wages anyway.

Adequate pay for Early Child care Educators is a growing concern. The past Liberal government had in place an enhancement plan that workers feel is likely to be cancelled by the Progressive Conservative government. Carolyn Ferns, Coordinator of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), worries about how this will affect professionals in child care. In a Mississauga News article Ferns explains, "It is so hard to recruit and retain ECEs." Sentient HR's commitment to its staff comes at a time when the child care profession needs it.

Greg Dixon, Director of Sentient HR explains, "It is important for us to care about those who care for our children. We recognize that early childhood wages are improving, but are not at a level that all of us can yet be proud of. Sentient has decided to raise wages. We hope this shows our connection and support with our supply staff." Dixon went on to say, "We are committed to the industry and to improving the lifestyle of our staff through our efforts to raise the wages of early childhood educators," "We have been able to raise wages despite not receiving the extra two dollar provincial wage enhancement that child care centres receive. We will continue to evaluate our pay structure on an on-going basis to ensure we are as competitive as possible, while also ensuring that child care centres across Ontario can afford our services."

Dixon is joined by other business owners who have gone ahead and given a raise to their employees, although the province will not be increasing the minimum wage law. Small businesses see an advantage to paying above the grade because it leads to better employee retention. In an article in Daily Hive, Gilleen Pearce, a member of the Better Way Alliance, explains, "Small businesses are here with a smaller voice, creating good jobs and paying more because we don't want that turnover."

Dixon feels Sentient is ahead of the curve because he understands the benefits of a fair wage and sees how it fit into Sentient's mission. "Our core tenant is to Enrich Lives through the Power of Connections. For Sentient, the wage increase for both Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) and registered early childhood workers helps us retain staff, make more connections and meet the demands of child care centres who rely on us to fill shifts with employees who are excited to work because they feel they are getting a fair wage."

About Sentient HR
Sentient HR Services specializes in Supply Staffing, temporary and full-time staff placements for child care centres and private schools.

Media Contact
Theresa Laird, The Foray Group, [email protected]

SOURCE Sentient HR