One Year Later: How Charter’s $15 Minimum Wage Has Made Us a Stronger Company

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Almost a year ago, Charter announced its intention to ensure all of our employees are paid a minimum wage of at least $15 per hour, including target commissions. As a result, approximately 14,000 hourly employees had their wages increased and all new hires receive a $15 per hour minimum wage as well.

Charter has seen our business continue to thrive when we invest in our employees so they can grow their careers and succeed with us. Building a highly skilled, diverse and locally-based workforce continues to be the key to the success of our company. Paying every employee at least $15 per hour enhances these efforts, and improves their lives and the lives of the customers they serve. The majority of our employees are call center representatives, Field Technicians, and staff at Spectrum stores. They interact with thousands of people every day and are the face of Charter to our more than 26 million customers across our 41-state footprint.

That’s why we want to give them the opportunity and support they need to build meaningful, long-term careers with Charter. In addition to a ensuring a minimum wage of $15 per hour, Charter offers robust medical and retirement benefits, including a 401(k) with a dollar for dollar match up to 6% of employees’ pay, and an additional 3% retirement contribution for our hourly workers.  We also offer opportunities for training and career advancement like our highly regarded broadband technician apprenticeship program. We want to support our employees and their families at every stage of their lives. 

Raising our minimum wage was the right thing to do for our company and we are proud of the positive impact it has had on the lives of so many valued workers. For Cesar Torres, a Spectrum Field Technician in Corpus Christi, Texas, the impact of a $15 per hour wage was transformational. Cesar said, “Before Charter, I was in a place where honestly I couldn’t see a way out. No job, no home… When I got hired with Spectrum, everything started changing. You know, I actually had a place to call a career. Spectrum gives you an opportunity to actually have a good-paying job with good benefits, and still spend time with your family. You start at $15 dollars an hour. That’s a huge blessing right there.”

For Tameka Leach, her job as a Charter Sales Support Coordinator in Charlotte, North Carolina offered her a new beginning. According to Tameka, “Charter has given me a new start. The people here [at Charter] are warm and compassionate, and they go above and beyond for their employees and their customers. Once the raise happened, it’s like prayers were answered.”

Being paid at least a $15 per hour income opened the door for Spectrum Field Technician James Saaristo to build a long-term career and enabled his wife to pursue her dream career in nursing. James recalled calling his wife to tell her he got a raise to $15 per hour and that she would be able to begin nursing school. “You know, she was just thrilled. I could tell through the phone that she was just crying tears of joy. It was the most amazing experience.”

To continue to grow our business, we want and need employees like Cesar, Tameka and James to answer our customers’ questions or install broadband service in their homes. As we enter the New Year with a company-wide $15 per hour minimum wage, Charter looks forward to continuing to invest in our workforce, in their families and in the communities where they live and work.