The Living Wage WORKS for Tompkins County Small Businesses: Autumn Leaves Used Books

Joe Wetmore, Owner of Autumn Leaves Used Books in Ithaca, on being a Certified Living Wage Employer

Building a better business –

“Having a community standard to operate by – which the Alternatives Federal Credit Union provides in its living wage calculation – helped me establish a wage base for my store. It’s contributed to employee retention. The most recent hire for Autumn Leaves has been there six years.”

And a better community

“When businesses don’t pay a living wage, many employees have to depend on tax-supported services, friends, family – and sacrifices to their own health and wellbeing. Those employers don’t build a society I want to live in.”

Joe Wetmore, Owner of Autumn Leaves Used Books outside the store on The Commons in Ithaca
Joe Wetmore, Owner of Autumn Leaves Used Books outside the store on The Commons in Ithaca