White Point Beach Resort Raises Minimum Wage For Staff
HUNTS POINT – White Point Beach Resort has raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour for associated staff.
General Manager for White Point Beach Resort, Dylan Meisner, explained that after seeing staff struggle throughout the pandemic, it was time for a change.
“We just decided that $12.95, or slightly above, is not something that we want our people to earn anymore. It impacts them too negatively,” said Meisner. “We want them to have the ability to do things more freely, be happier with themselves and with their life.”
Meisner added that those working at resort that make $14 an hour or more will receive a pay increase of $1 an hour, as well. He said the idea to raise the wages come from the resort’s owners.
“It’s not like we are ten people, this is huge financial investment year over year,” said Meisner. “The suggestion to do this by an owner just warms your heart.”
In a release, owners Robert and Alicia Risley explained that employees at their resort need to be able to afford to take care of themselves and their families.
“Alicia and I have spent considerable time lately talking about how much the cost of living has increased since the advent of COVID-19,” said Robert Risley. “Basic needs such as the cost of groceries, gas and accommodation have increased so much that we don’t understand how a minimum wage family could even come close to a reasonable existence.
Meisner said that, so far, feedback has been positive. He believes that having happier staff will make for even happier guests at the resort.
“This will hopefully grow business and we will see rewards on the business end of this,” he said.
The minimum wage increase is set to come in to effect for employees of White Point Beach Resort on September 5th, 2021.