Why I'm Proud to Be an #AetnaEmployee

Out of all of the blog topics I envision writing, today's blog was definitely not one of them. If you follow financial and business news, this blog post may not be new news to you.

Today, Mark Bertolini, CEO of Aetna, announced  that the company is boosting the pay of its low-waged employees. Beginning in April, the lowest earning employees will get a minimum of $16 an hour. Aetna will join the ranks of the city of Seattle, Gap, Ikea and a handful of other companies that will pay $15 or more an hour. Holla!

This is good news for approximately 5,700 Aetna employees who primarily work in customer service and billing. 

Will this be a game changer in the health care industry and in the business world in general? I'm not sure, but I believe it's a conversation starter for the business community and our government about what actions the corporate sector can do to ensure Americans have a livable wage to support their families.

Five, 10, and even 12 dollars is no longer cutting it for the American worker and his/her family across our nation. It hasn't been for some time. The data on income inequality illustrates this. To make the necessary monthly bills, many low-wage and middle-class Americans have to work two and sometimes three jobs to pay their bills, keep food on the table, and a roof over their and the heads of their family members. 

I'm proud to be an Aetna employee and work for a company that recognizes the importance and significance of increasing wages for its lowest waged employees. I hope to see other companies and industries follow this trend.