What if an agency believes that it cannot afford to pay the living wage?
If an agency believes that payment of the living wage would cause a demonstrated harm to the agency’s services, the agency may apply for a hardship waiver. An application for such waiver must be both endorsed by the Mayor and presented to the Common Council. The Council must find that the harm to the agency’s services outweighs the benefits of the LWO before a hardship waiver will be granted. (BMC 2.28.070(d).
