Facebook Boosts Pay of Low Wage Earners

Facebook has become known for offering its employees some perks that have become enviable. Now the social media giant wants its janitors and other workers who are low wage earners to get a boost as well.

The company on Wednesday announced plans to require its contractors and its vendors in the U.S. to pay their employees a minimum of $15 per hour and to offer paid time off for both vacations and sick days.

Facebook will require its contractors as well to offer a child benefit of $4,000 for workers who do not already receive parental leave.

This move comes amidst a growing push to increase minimum wage, with workers at fast food establishments and others in low wage jobs demanding $15 per hour or more.

Taking the new steps is the correct thing to do for the company and the community said the COO at Facebook Sheryl Sandberg.

Sandberg has become an outspoken women’s advocate in the overall workforce and said the new changes were particularly important for females, since they represent the majority of workers who earn minimum wage nationwide. She added that providing benefits helps to contribute to a happier and ultimately more productive worker.

The policy started on May 1 for a number of its contractors at its headquarters in California, but the company will extend it to a larger group of later in 2015. Facebook did not say the number of employees that would be affected. However, it likely applies to the workers who earned an hourly wage cleaning offices, maintaining grounds, and serving food in the cafeteria.

Like the majority of companies in Silicon Valley, Facebook offers salaried employees a number of benefits that include lengthy leave for parenting as well as egg freezing for female who want to put off motherhood for the time being.

It also had a number of perks that are very unique, such as bus service, gourmet food and a video arcade area on its corporate headquarters.

Facebook is not the sole company in big tech that is making these types of changes. Microsoft said this past March that it would be requiring contractors to offer paid time off to their employees.