Our History
Our History
In 2018, Living Wage Virginia began certifying employers in four localities- Richmond, Northern Virginia, Harrisonburg, and Charlottesville through a volunteer-run model. In 2023 Living Wage Virginia became an On-Up partner with Living Wage for Us, helping employers in the Commonwealth to improve their cost-benefit analyses and meet the global standard for living wages. Employers in Virginia can receive dual certification from Living Wage for Us and Living Wage Virginia and receive national-level recognition and promotion while remaining rooted in their local communities.
The following employers have received dual certification through our On-Up partnership with Living Wage for Us:
Your Community Wins
Living wage businesses report that higher base pay and benefits attract more qualified employees, decreases employee turnover, and boosts employee morale and productivity.
Local communities also gain when workers’ wages increase. The subsequent increase in spending circulates money back into local economies, which supports communities and spurs job growth.
We are in all Major Regions in the Commonwealth
The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has spearheaded the creation of multiple Living Wage Certification programs across the Commonwealth. The Richmond and Northern Virginia programs launched in 2018. Charlottesville and Harrisonburg launched in 2019. The addition of our statewide certification program in 2021 allows employers outside these localities and/or with multiple locations across the Commonwealth to be recognized as living wage employers.
The Virginia Living Wage Certification Program is a project of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, a 501(c)(3) organization. If you would like to talk more about participating in the Living Wage program please reach out to Ramon Zepeda Ramos at ramon@virginiainterfaithcenter.org.