make work pay

Too often, DC residents who work earn too little to make ends meet. One in three District families with children, for example, have incomes below 200 percent of the poverty line even though one parent is working full-time. This problem is exacerbated in the District where the cost of living is among the highest in the nation, yet many jobs in the DC area offer very low wages and limited benefits.

To make work pay for all District residents, the District must build an economic system that values job retention and advancement, comprehensive benefits packages for all employees, and financial literacy and support services. Additionally, the city’s tax burden must be fairly distributed across all populations.

To accomplish this, the District must:
1) Work with employers and employees to turn jobs into careers that provide advancement opportunities
2) Encourage job retention and advancement supports – both publicly and privately funded – that include mentoring, peer support groups, skill upgrading, career ladder movement, and career and financial planning;
3) Ensure employees are paid a living wage and have predictable and responsive schedules;
4) Expand worker access to employment benefits such as unemployment insurance, health care, and paid sick-leave; and
5) Examine District tax policies to ensure an equitable allocation of the District’s tax burden.

Our Recommendations for Change are:

Coming Soon.