"A rising tide lifts all boats."
- Henry B. F. McFarland
- Henry B. F. McFarland
The employer-employee relationship is more than just an economic transaction—it is a fundamental human partnership built on trust, respect, and shared responsibility. A person’s work deeply affects their life, well-being, and family. With this in mind, ethical employment practices are not just a business choice but a moral obligation.
The Ethical Employer Certification is a gift to humanity... its a way for us all to come together and build working relationships that honor our better angels, and our shared humanity. It provides the vision for a more just, burdent, and fair society, and a path to make that vision a reality.
The Ethical Employer Certification is a pledge to uphold fairness, dignity, and responsible employment practices. It is a movement toward creating workplaces that respect workers, compensate fairly, and contribute to a more just and equitable society.
The Ethical Employer Certification is free and always will be—it is awarded to businesses that voluntarily commit to high ethical standards in employment. Our guiding principles include:
Living wages tied to cost of living
Work-life balance and benefits
Equitable profit distribution
Ethical partnerships in supply chains
Fair treatment for all workers, regardless of employment type
Summary
What Ethical Employment practices look like in every situation is not for any one person or orginzation to decide, but basically here is how we define it here. Any person who works full-time(32 hours a week), should be able to have a roof, of their own, over their head, and food to put on the table for themselves. According to global financial experts, people should limit their housing expenses(rent/mortgage), to not exceed 25% of their monthly income. This is our starting place for the Ethical Employer Certification.
Living Wages
We believe that any individual working full-time (32+ hours a week) should earn enough to afford basic living expenses, including housing and food. Our certification defines a living wage as an income that ensures housing costs do not exceed 25% of a worker’s monthly earnings.
For example, if the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in a city is $950, an Ethical Employer must pay a minimum of $26 per hour for full-time, entry-level positions. Apprenticeship wages should also meet this standard, accounting for educational value.
Fair and Flexible Work
We recognize that the gig economy and flexible work arrangements are essential in today’s world. Our certification does not require companies to offer full-time employment. Instead, we ensure that all employment, regardless of hours worked, is compensated ethically and fairly.
Honorable Benefits
A truly ethical employer supports employees beyond wages. Certified businesses commit to providing:
Retirement plans with a minimum 3% employer match
Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance for full-time employees after 90 days
At least one week of paid vacation and three days of personal leave annually
Maternity leave to support working parents
Equitable Profit Distribution
To prevent extreme pay disparity, we encourage a reasonable ratio between executive and employee compensation. Inspired by Sweden’s model, Ethical Employers commit to ensuring executive pay does not exceed 30 times the average employee’s salary. This promotes fairness while allowing businesses to reward leadership appropriately.
Ethical Employment Supply Network
We extend ethical employment practices beyond individual businesses by fostering a network of ethical suppliers and contractors. Certified businesses commit to prioritizing partnerships with other Ethical Employers, influencing broader market standards.
Subcontractor Ethics
We acknowledge that businesses rely on subcontractors, but we ensure they align with our ethical employment values. Certified employers pledge to only work with subcontractors who uphold fair wages and working conditions.
Together, Towards a More Equitable World
The Ethical Employer Certification isn't just a badge; it's a promise to our employees, customers, and community. It's our way of contributing to a more just, fair, and equitable society. Join us in this commitment, and together, we can reshape the landscape of employment for the better.
Being an Ethical Employer leads to increased worker morale, worker health, and improved quality of service. It also lowers turnover rates, saving money for employers. Economic research shows that higher wages aid in job creation and helps small business. Companies who carry the prestigious seal as an Ethical Employer are viewed as more trustworthy, honest, and honorable, demonstrating higher value, and able to reasonably demand higher fees for their services. Studies have shown that consumers are willing to pay higher prices for similar services if they have confidence that labor that went into the products or services are sourced in an ethical manner. Consumers who equate with equitable treatment, and living wages with higher levels of trust, value, and confidence in businesses, and thus garner higher marketplace value for the same services. Carrying the Ethical Employer Seal not only makes you look like a better company in the eyes of consumers, it MAKES you a better company. It shows that you are committed to doing the right thing, even if it's difficult.
Automotive Repair
Cob Custom Services in Orlando, Fl. - Since 2021
Location: Orlando, Fl.
Phone Number: 407-775-2622
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Cobb-Custom-Services-110506538062301/?ref=page_internal
Computer Services
Anytime Computer Service in Eustis, fl. 32726 - Since 2021
Location: Eustis, Fl. 32726
Phone Number: 352.729.1741
Website: www.AnytimeComputerService.com
Web Design & Online Marketing
So Fly Web Design in Orlando Fl, - Since 2021
Location: Orlando, Fl.
Phone Number: 352.729.1741
Website: www.TenMinuteWebsite.com
Entertainment & Talent
Making Waves Booking Agency in Orlando, Fl. - Since 2021
Location: Orlando, Fl.
Phone Number: 352.801.5545
Website: www.makingwavesagency.com
Restaurants, Food, Dining
Roofing
Terms for Service:
The Ethical Employer Certification is provided by www.EthicalEmployerCertification.com , and all certifications are issued for free, issued by the employer to themselves upon completion of the pledge application contained on this website. The general public hold these employers accountable to the terms of this certification in the court of public opinion. Any employer who commits to the values as described herein have the permission to use the seal contained herein, and/or any graphics on this website on any digital, or printed materials, for promotional purposes, or otherwise. Employers found to violate the terms of service for use of this brand, and certification may be subject to the loss of their certification indefinitely, which includes the formal and immediate ir-revocation of any permissions of use of the seal, and/or any other graphics provided by EthicalEmployerCertification.com, and removal from any directories on this website.
Donations:
We're fighting together for a living wage. But it takes work. We would like to grow this cause substantially, and invest more time and resources into the website, marketing, and outreach.. but that takes time and money. If you want to help grow this movement, but don't have time to volunteer, donate some cash for the cause! Donations go to EGB Services LLC., and are NOT tax deductible! ALSO. Donations are NOT guaranteed to go directly to this project specifically. This project is the brain child of its developer, and as such funds may be used directly, or indirectly to achieve its over all goals.
Please keep in mind that all the time that is spent on managing this project is on a volunteer basis, but still takes time and energy to do.. time and energy that must be taken from something else that could be profitable... so you're donations go to help aide this process and make the project make 'cents'.. For; If it don't make dollars, it don't make cents.
The Ethical Employer Certification is about choice, awareness, and action. No force, no mandates—just a better way of thinking about employment and economic fairness.
We appreciate every person who believes in this mission. If you have questions, feedback, or want to get involved, reach out! Let’s make the world a fairer place, one ethical employer at a time. 💙
Not at all. We believe in fairness, not forced equality. Compensation should reflect the level of responsibility, expertise, and investment an individual brings to their work. However, we also believe that every worker—regardless of their role—deserves a wage that allows them to afford basic necessities like housing and food.
A doctor, for example, may justifiably earn more due to the years of education, training, and responsibility their job requires. But this should not come at the cost of pushing essential workers, such as janitors or food service employees, into financial instability. No one should be left struggling simply because of the type of work they do.
The Ethical Employer Certification does not dictate exact salaries but advocates for a minimum living wage based on local cost of living—ensuring that all workers, no matter their position, can lead a dignified life.
That’s okay! We welcome discussion and feedback.
The Ethical Employer Certification is not about enforcing rigid rules—it’s about guiding principles that encourage fairness and ethical employment practices. If you have ideas, concerns, or suggestions, reach out to us. We are always open to constructive conversations that help refine and improve this initiative.
The Ethical Employer Certification is a grassroots movement built by a small team (currently, just one person) with a vision for a better future. If you want to support this cause, here’s how you can help:
✅ If you're an employer: Take the Ethical Employer Pledge and get your business listed in our database. (Note: The database is manually updated and may take time, but automation is in the works!)
✅ Spread the word: Challenge businesses you support to take the pledge, and share our mission on social media. The more visibility we have, the bigger impact we can make.
✅ Donate: This project is currently self-funded. Donations allow us to improve the website, automate processes, and expand outreach efforts. While donations are not tax-deductible, they go directly toward growing this initiative. (See the donations section for more info.)
✅ Volunteer: If you're a developer, designer, marketer, or have another valuable skill, we’d love your help! Message me here: www.EddieBoscana.com
This initiative is fueled by passion, not profit—but it takes resources to scale. Your support makes a difference!
reat news! The Ethical Employer Certification is global and completely free.
Any employer who takes the pledge is officially recognized as an Ethical Employer and can use the certification on their branding, website, and marketing materials.
To verify if an employer has taken the pledge, check our database on the website, where we list Ethical Employers along with their contact details.
We are working toward three main objectives:
1️⃣ Rebuilding the website on WordPress for a smoother, more automated experience.
2️⃣ Launching an ambassador program to enable supporters to promote ethical employment and receive donations for their advocacy.
3️⃣ Encouraging every employer worldwide to accept the challenge and commit to fair labor practices.
This isn’t just a certification—it’s a movement to reshape employment standards and empower consumers to support businesses that align with their values.