Being designated as Good Wages Certified starts with completing the online application. A .pdf version is available to help you prepare. After receiving your application and the application fee, Good Wages Initiative staff will arrange a discussion with you to ensure an accurate understanding of your application.
Certification
When your wage floor is at $18/hour or higher and you offer health insurance, Certified status is for you.
If you’re on a path to meeting these qualifications, start with Committed while you progress toward certification.
Jump To
Certified
Good Wages Certified employers meet the $18/hour wage threshold for all employees, and offer health insurance to at least two full-time employees. Part-time employees, apprentices, interns, new hires, and minors may be excluded. Certification lasts for two years and is available for businesses with an office in Marion County, IN.
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1. Apply
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2. Receive
Once approved, you will receive a GWI Marketing Toolkit complete with door signage, digital Good Wages Initiative design assets, press release template, sample social media announcements, and more.
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3. Promote
Share your Good Wages Certified status with the community! Please include your updated information on your website’s homepage and include your GWI status in job postings to promote your commitment to employee well-being and the community.
Committed
Committed employers intend to become certified and are working through a Certification Plan they designed to raise wages and (as necessary) expand health insurance access. Committed employers confirm that they will meet certification criteria by March 31, 2024, or soon thereafter, and apply for Certified status at that time.
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1. Develop
Identify compensation and benefits practices that do not meet the criteria for certification, and then develop a Certification Plan to raise wages and (if necessary) expand health insurance access to the required levels by March 31, 2024, or soon thereafter.
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2. Announce
Make public declaration of your intent to seek certification. This communication strategy could include activities like making an announcement via an internal newsletter, sharing your commitment on social media channels, and issuing a press release.
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3. Apply
Complete the online application and submit the application fee. Good Wages Initiative staff will contact you to arrange a conversation about your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Look here for details about both Certified and Committed status. Want to print this out? The same information is available in our Employer Handbook.
What is the Good Wages Initiative (GWI)?
The Good Wages Initiative (GWI) is a certification program that showcases Marion County employers who pay good wages of $18/hr + plus access to health insurance benefits for full-time employees.
Employers who do not yet qualify for GWI Certification but are interested in attaining that goal within x years can apply for Committed GWI Employer status.
What are the incentives for my business to become GWI Certified?
Certified GWI Employers gain access to EmployIndy’s full program catalog of resources and an extensive network across Marion County’s workforce ecosystem. With GWI Certification, you can connect and share ideas with peer employers who have also prioritized employer/employee relations.
As a Certified GWI Employer, you also receive marketing support to promote your commitment to advancing the workforce—promoting your company to job seekers, current employees, consumers, and the greater community.
What are the requirements to become GWI Certified or GWI Committed?
Certified GWI Requirements
- Employ at least two full-time workers
- Each full-time employee receives $18/hr+ plus access to health insurance
Companies that do not yet qualify for certification, but intend to reach that goal within 2 years, can apply for Committed GWI status.
Committed GWI Requirements
- Develop and submit a Certification Plan showing intent to raise wages and expand access to health insurance within 2 years
- Agree to meet GWI Certified status in 2 years
How do I apply to become a Certified GWI Employer or Committed GWI Employer?
Our application process is quick and simple and can be completed entirely online. Once the
application is submitted, the Good Wages Initiative team will follow up with the next steps.
Ready to apply for Certified GWI Employer status? Click here.
Ready to apply for Committed GWI Employer status? Click here.
Recertification is required every two years unless otherwise specified. An employer must maintain the wage and benefit threshold, as determined by the Good Wages Initiative team, between recertification.
Exemptions
Details on exemptions can be found in the correlating application. If you need further details, please contact the GWI team.