Taking care of those who care for us
“Doulas are historically undervalued, underpaid — much like all care work and feminised labour. Brood was founded by people who have experienced life-changing doula care and those who have provided care for over a decade. Since day one, Brood has been committed to paying a living wage. One of the pillars of making doula care accessible to all is to make sustainable, long-term careers for these care workers through living wages, mentorship and community. If we want care for all, we need to take care of those who care for us.” – Emma Devin
We’re thrilled to be the first doula care agency to become a certified Living Wage Employer one of the 400 Living Wage Employers in BC. A living wage is the baseline hourly amount for families to be able to afford a decent life. With recent economic pressures, especially in the care economy, this movement is powerful and important. And it’s made even more relevant by the City of Vancouver’s recent end to their commitment as a Living Wage Employer.
The Living Wage Employer website states: “A living wage is different than a minimum wage. The minimum wage is the legislated minimum set by the provincial government. The minimum wage should be set at a rate high enough to lift an individual worker out of poverty. An adequate minimum wage is the government’s responsibility to address working poverty.
A living wage is an opportunity for employers to do better. A living wage calls on employers to meet a higher standard for their both staff and major contractors, to ensure that wages reflect the true costs of living in a community and that parents can earn what they need to support their families. More than 350 Living Wage Employers across BC agree and have certified with us.
Living Wage for Families BC also advocates for policies that would positively impact families. We support the call for quality and affordable child care as well as for housing policies that would help low-wage families make ends meet.”
This certification is important to the Brood team at it signifies our commitment to supporting our care team of birth and postpartum doulas, as well as to the quality of care our families receive.
Learn more about the Living Wage program and our commitment here.
