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Op-Ed By Judy Clinco
Arizona Daily Star, July 27, 2016

I founded my business in 1981 because I was unable to find compassionate and safe in-home care for my aging mother. I knew that other families in Tucson were searching for the same thing and coming up empty-handed, so I drew on my experience as a registered nurse to establish Catalina In-Home Services, Inc.

Having run my business for more than 35 years, I know how expensive and time-consuming it is to replace employees and train new ones. I also know that my employees are more likely to continue working for me and do their jobs to the best of their ability when they are treated with the dignity and respect that they have earned.

Unfortunately, many hardworking people in our state are struggling to make ends meet because of low wages and an inability to earn paid sick days. Currently, a person who is paid minimum wage in Arizona earns only $17,000 a year. Families can’t survive — let alone get ahead — on so little money.

That’s why – since the day I opened my business – I have paid all my workers above minimum wage. I’ve seen firsthand that paying a decent wage improves my bottom line and the lives of the people who work for me. And, I’m not alone. Cities and states throughout the country have successfully raised the minimum wage, providing evidence that this action is good for families, communities and local businesses.

These policies aren’t just good for my business; they’re good for the people who work for me, too. For dedicating their time, energy, empathy and compassion to our clients, employees have earned higher wages and the ability to support their families.

All working families in Arizona have earned the peace of mind that comes from higher wages and access to earned paid sick days. That’s why I am supporting the Healthy Working Families Initiative, a ballot measure to increase the minimum wage in Arizona and guarantee access to earned paid sick days for all hardworking Arizonans.

The Healthy Working Families Initiative will help businesses like mine save time and money by improving staff retention and job performance, while at the same time improving the lives of more than 1 million people in our state.

Judy Clinco is an RN and the Founder and CEO of Catalina In-Home Services, Inc., the first locally owned home care service in Tucson.

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Copyright 2016 Judy Clinco