Charter Communications said in a company statement that all of its current and newly-hired salaried and hourly employees will now earn at least $18 an hour, a significant step toward the company’s goal of raising its minimum starting wage to $20 an hour next year.
The cable TV and broadband provider announced that goal in April of last year, outlining plans for an increase of $1.50 an hour in 2020 to bring the base wage to $16.50, and another $1.50 hike 2021 to reach the $18 an hour mark. Charter established a minimum wage of $15 an hour back in 2018.
The current wage level includes target commissions, in addition to company-paid benefits, which include medical, life and disability, education and training, as well as a retirement plan and potential financial assistance for ongoing education.
Charter, which has more than 96,000 employees nationwide, added that it is now hiring to fill almost 3,000 jobs at the $18-an-hour pay level throughout its entire 41-state service region. The company is about to embark on an ambitious $5 billion rural broadband expansion program, with much of the work expected to happen next year, according to recent comments from Charter CFO Chris Winfrey. The company also bucked industry trends last year by managing to grow its video subscriber base.
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“Charter is a place where employees can continuously learn and progress in their development,” said Tom Rutledge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Charter in the statement. “Building, selling and servicing an advanced broadband network, conventional and streaming video, with fixed and wireless mobile products for home and business, creates ongoing career opportunities.”
Charter last year came under fire for allegedly not implementing enough safety precautions to protect its employees at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.