Date of Conferral

2-22-2024

Date of Award

February 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Christina Anastasia

Abstract

In the United States, paying employees a living wage has been a salient topic for organizations, social advocacy groups, and politicians in recent years. Advocates have introduced a $15 per hour wage as an appropriate living wage. There is existing research on living wages; however, research is limited on perceptions of living wages among leadership in the health care industry. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore leaders' perceptions of a $15 living wage and its influence on organizational outcomes in the health care industry. The efficiency wage theory provided the theoretical framework for the investigation. A case study design was used. To answer the research question, interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of leaders at a health care organization. Data collected during virtual interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo software. A thematic analysis was conducted, and results of the study showed that the participating leaders had an overall positive perception of implementing a $15 living wage but varied in their perceptions regarding the influence on organizational outcomes. Improved retention, increased salary budget, no impact on absenteeism, and decreased vacancy rates are some of the key themes that emerged. The recommendation is for future researchers to continue to explore the impact of implementing a $15 living wage in other industries. The findings may effect positive social change by providing human resource professionals, organizational leaders, politicians, and social advocacy groups with insight needed to guide future living wage legislation with the goal of eliminating poverty and the concept of the working poor.

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