Deli Chain Owner Pays His Employees Above Minimium Wage, Offers Health and Dental Bennies, Paid Time

[Cha]

[font size=lg]Off, and Retirement Plans.[/font]


Paul Saginaw, co-founder of Zingerman's Deli in Michigan, pays his 630 employees up to $21/hour, offers health and dental benefits to all workers, provides paid time off, and 401k retirement plans. This week, Mr. Saginaw is in Washington lobbying Congress and the restaurant industry to raise wages for all workers!

A New Direction for Restaurant Workers? Zingerman’s and the “Thriveable Wage”


Zingerman's Deli is located on Detroit Street in downtown Ann Arbor

snip//

"In light of the industry’s powerful lobbying to keep wages low, it is rare to find restaurants—or corporations generally—driven by a desire to improve their employees’ overall living wage and wellness, rather than how the market can make them richer. Enter Zingerman’s Community of Businesses (Zingerman’s), made up of 18 partners and several different enterprises including a restaurant called Zingerman’s Roadhouse. Based in Michigan, Zingerman’s partners are known for having built their enterprises based on how they can “enhance the lives of as many people as [they] possibly can.”

In practice this means offering all their employees—part time and full time—health and dental benefits, and paid time off. After they work at Zingerman’s for a year, employees are eligible for 401(k)s.

Tabitha Mason, who built her career in the restaurant industry, is the manager of Zingerman’s Roadhouse. “Early in my career at a different restaurant, I probably made $20,000 per year. That was a more traditional restaurant, where servers were viewed as disposable,” Mason told RH Reality Check. “And previous restaurants I worked at would try hard to restrict who could receive benefits—like it was an exclusive club.”..

Read the rest..
http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/03/04/a-new-direction-for-restaurant-workers-zingermans-and-the-thriveable-wage/


Zingerman's owner travels to Washington, D.C., to lobby for increased minimum wage

"Paul Saginaw, the co-owner of Zingerman’s Delicatessen, displayed strong support for low-wage workers recently when he made a trek to Washington, D.C., to lobby for an increase in the minimum wage.

Saginaw joined business owners from Colorado, New York, Maryland and Washington, D.C., to lobby U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez. The business owners talked about the positive impacts of paying employees a higher wage than the government minimum of $7.25 per hour.

“We’ve grown since opening Zingerman’s Delicatessen almost 32 years ago to eight businesses in Ann Arbor employing 625 permanent staff with revenues just under $50 million dollars,” Saginaw said in a Jan. 23 roundtable discussion with the other business owners.

“Paying entry wages our employees can live on has contributed to our profitability and our annual compounded growth rate of 10 percent. Raising the minimum wage is long overdue.”[/i]

More to the story..
http://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/01/zingermans_owner_travels_to_wa.html

It can be done and businesses like Zingerman's are Living Proof!

[kelliekat44]

1. Bet he has bunch of loyal, diligent employees who watch his business closely and give great service.

[Cha]

3. Yes, kellie.. like Tabitha Mason..

Tabitha Mason, who built her career in the restaurant industry, is the manager of Zingerman’s Roadhouse. “Early in my career at a different restaurant, I probably made $20,000 per year. That was a more traditional restaurant, where servers were viewed as disposable,” Mason told RH Reality Check. “And previous restaurants I worked at would try hard to restrict who could receive benefits—like it was an exclusive club.”..

[Cha]

2. Kick!

[Cha]

4. ..

[longship]

5. As a Michigander, I can heartily endorse Zingerman's.

It's a great place.

Take that, New Yorkers! (Although I love Zabar's, too -- just can't afford to shop there.)

[etherealtruth]

6. Agreed! n/t

[Cha]

7. "The Thrivable Wage"..

I love Zlngerman's too and I just found them on facebook Enjoy for those of us who aren't in Michigan, longship!~

[longship]

10. I live on the west side of the state.

Zingerman's is a couple hundred miles from the Manistee National Forest, where my house is. But as a long time Detroiter, I have eaten at Zingerman's, Ann Arbor on occasion. They make a great sandwich. Corned beef and chopped liver with all the fixings!! Ahhhh!

One needs a wheel barrow and two attendants to get out of there after eating.

[Cha]

14. I remember the days..

Just wheel me home.. please!

[JimDandy]

90. Great phrase! n/t

[Cha]

91. YES It Is! Let's adopt it, JimDandy!

[JimDandy]

101. I will. Much better than "survivable wage". n/t

[Cha]

102. I've already used it once today..

"To Walmart workers who are speaking out for Thrivable Wages!"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4478711

[Enthusiast]

59. Now, if you could just get rid of that governor.

[sheshe2]

8. What goes around comes around, Cha!

From your link...

“Additionally, those workers spend that extra income at local businesses in their communities, which benefits the overall economy. It's really that simple.”

The business leaders attending the Roundtable want Congress to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which would gradually raise the federal minimum wage in to $10.10 and then provide for annual cost-of-living adjustments.

Hundreds of other business owners and executives across the country have signed an open petition, which can be found here.

Local photographer Dennis Cox, of Dennis Cox LLC, is the only other Ann Arbor business owner to have signed the online petition.

It's not a difficult concept. I hope Paul Saginaw and others like him will make the difference.

Thanks Cha, what a great OP!

[Cha]

16. Big PROPS to Paul Saginaw, she.. And, there ya GO..

"Additionally, those workers spend that extra income at local businesses in their communities, which benefits the overall economy. It's really that simple.”

So simple.. "A Thrivable Wage" makes the world go around with Happy People for real~

Mahalo, sheshe

[Vashta Nerada]

9. I wish more businesses followed his example.

[muntrv]

11. My hometown!

[Cha]

17. Nice, muntrv, Ann Arbor!

[Scuba]

12. Ann Arbor, eh? Sounds like lunch next trip.

[Cha]

44. Is that in your

neck of the woods, Scuba?!

[Scuba]

60. No, I'm in Wisconsin, but do like to get out and about.

[Cha]

62. I thought you were in Wisconsin.. So,

a nice little jaunt for lunch when the weather is nice.

[freshwest]

13. Great and hope his lobbying for a living wage gets more press. Thanks for posting this, Cha! n/t

[Cha]

25. Thank you, fresh.. it's all over facebook but I'm

hoping for more "press" coverage too. But, we know how the US press likes to keep down the working people and haul water and whatever for the trickle down crew.

[sheshe2]

28. Time for more change is it not freshwest! n/t

[Mosby]

15. Quite a collection of businesses

http://www.zingermanscommunity.com/about-us/our-businesses/

Deli prices seem high to me but I have no idea how ann arbor compares to phoenix.

http://www.zingermansdeli.com/printable-menu.html

[Egalitarian Thug]

18. For a real deli, those are average in most cities (including Phoenix, where do you go?), and low

for the high-expense places like NYC or San Francisco.

Scottsdale used to have a couple of good delis, and their prices were in this ballpark.

[Mosby]

21. DeFalcos

http://defalcosdeli.com/hot-sandwiches.html

Cheese Steak (beef or chicken)
Thin-sliced rib-eye topped with melted cheese & served on an Italian roll. On request add fried peppers, onions, and mushrooms.

8 bucks.

[Egalitarian Thug]

22. Wow. If it's good food, that's a great deal.

Is Honey Bear's still around? That was some good BBQ, nice & spicy and no candy-sweet like the big chains.

[Mosby]

26. I think there are several Honey Bear's now

Have you every eaten at a Miracle Mile?

It's closer to the type of food at the Ann Arbor deli and it's still a lot cheaper. I don't travel much but I get the impression that food cheap in Phx.

http://miraclemiledeli.com/sandwiches/

[Egalitarian Thug]

33. Nope, I've seen it, but I never stopped. As for price, it think it might be.

Many foods are cheaper in Phoenix, but not nearly as good as here (Las Vegas), except for pizza .
We both have Grimaldi's and it's always good but very expensive, but you have Barro's which is one of the very few things I really liked there and their prices are really reasonable for what you get.

Generally, I've found that the food itself is not as good down there. I'm speaking of quality. Durant's still makes a great steak, but the beef isn't that good anymore. Do you know what I mean?

If you've lived there for a long time, you used to have a place called the Hollywood Deli & Bar @ 25th & Camel. It's been gone for a long time, but that was the very best deli I've ever had anywhere. Their sandwiches were $12 - $20 in the '80s, but were both way too big for one person and worth every bit of that price. They had a full-on New York Jewish deli menu from chicken in a pot to fresh-made rugelach. If they hadn't closed I would weigh 300lbs. today

[Cha]

36. YES!! The Nice Guys..

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage Federal Sign On Statement

Signers to date include • Costco • Eileen Fisher • Ben & Jerry's • Dansko footwear • New Belgium Brewing • Parnassus Investments • Organic Valley • Zingerman's • American Sustainable Business Council • Greater New York Chamber of Commerce • Main Street Alliance • ABC Home • National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association • Uncommon Goods • Equal Exchange • American Income Life • CAMEO-California Assc. for Micro Enterprise Opportunity • and hundreds more..

http://www.businessforafairminimumwage.org/Federal-Sign-On-Statement

Good ol Costco, Ben and Jerry's, Organic Valley, and Greater New York Chamber of Commerce!.. Etc, Etc Etc

[cprompt]

84. New Belgium Brewing

ahh yet another reason to enjoy Fat Tire beer.

[Cha]

85. Wonderbar!

cprompt

[leftynyc]

61. Well, I'm linking to a menu

from the famous 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC (btw, it's no longer on 2nd ave - it's on 33rd between Lexington and Third - conveniently located by my office). Seems the prices are pretty comparable and 2nd Avenue is considered expensive.



http://www.2ndavedeli.com/wp-content/uploads/menus/dine-in.pdf

[KatyaR]

76. Damn, when's the next plane to Michigan?

I'm drooling just looking at that menu....

[William769]

19. It can be done easily, but the one's that use the meme it will break them are wel...

[Iliyah]

20. K & R

Darn it, none in the Los Angeles area?

And it raining again!

[salin]

23. I loved eating at Zingerman's Deli 20 yrs ago.

Yummy! Always hustling with business. So glad to read this story - great establishing - with lasting power ... which treats its employees well rather than with the adversarial relationship that today is all too common.

[Cha]

27. Yeah, they've been around for 32 years and

Last edited Thu Feb 6, 2014, 11:10 PM - Edit history (1)

thriving, salin!

May their Thriving Wage Trend!

[salin]

41. ++

agreed!

[leftyohiolib]

24. time to money bomb the deli.

[Cha]

31. I'd like to give them any support I can leftyohiolib..

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage Federal Sign On Statement

Signers to date include • Costco • Eileen Fisher • Ben & Jerry's • Dansko footwear • New Belgium Brewing • Parnassus Investments • Organic Valley • Zingerman's • American Sustainable Business Council • Greater New York Chamber of Commerce • Main Street Alliance • ABC Home • National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association • Uncommon Goods • Equal Exchange • American Income Life • CAMEO-California Assc. for Micro Enterprise Opportunity • and hundreds more..

http://www.businessforafairminimumwage.org/Federal-Sign-On-Statement

Good ol Costco, Ben and Jerry's, Organic Valley, and Greater New York Chamber of Commerce!.. Etc, Etc Etc

[leftyohiolib]

32. love it ..thanks

[frylock]

29. ooooooh yeah, paying those wages will probably drive the business under..

in another 30-60 years.

[Cha]

45. Or

not.

[niyad]

30. wow--imagine that--a business owner who actually understands how business works.

I love the thrivable wage. not merely surviving, or merely living, but THRIVING. what an amazing concept!!

may he and all his staff thrive. too bad he doesn't have one of his locations near me.

[Cha]

37. Yeah, this could only Grow And Grow, niyad..

By Jove I think they're bloody well on to something!

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage Federal Sign On Statement

Signers to date include • Costco • Eileen Fisher • Ben & Jerry's • Dansko footwear • New Belgium Brewing • Parnassus Investments • Organic Valley • Zingerman's • American Sustainable Business Council • Greater New York Chamber of Commerce • Main Street Alliance • ABC Home • National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association • Uncommon Goods • Equal Exchange • American Income Life • CAMEO-California Assc. for Micro Enterprise Opportunity • and hundreds more..

http://www.businessforafairminimumwage.org/Federal-Sign-On-Statement

Good ol Costco, Ben and Jerry's, Organic Valley, and Greater New York Chamber of Commerce!.. Etc, Etc Etc

[niyad]

38. thank you for that link--will keep it handy.

[valerief]

34. But how can he become the richest person in the world if he does that?

Isn't being the richest the most important thing in the world?

[Cha]

43. Wonderful sharing business owners in this

coalition, valerief!

[ybbor]

79. As an Ann Arborite

I can tell you both Paul and Ari, his partner in the biz, are doing quite well. Paul's son has a coffee shop, Astro Coffee, in Corktown in Detroit, a couple doors down from another great place Slows BBQ. These guys have done a great job in building a thriving foodie community here in SE Michigan.

[valerief]

100. If only the world was filled with more people like them. nt

[ailsagirl]

35. Way to go!!

[Cha]

39. We have brilliance in America, ailsagirl!

[ailsagirl]

50. Yes we do, Cha!!

[Cha]

51. Hey..

[ailsagirl]

53. Right back 'atcha!!

[Hannahcares]

40. Buy mail order from Zingermans

I encourage DU folks who send goodies to friends and family for birthdays, valentines day, etc to go to Zingermans website and purchase their treats for mail order! We had friends who sent our college-age daughter baked goods from Zingermans every year - they are wonderful products and this is a wonderful company! Can't think of a better way to support such a progressive enterprise!
(The brownies and blondes are awesome!)

[Cha]

42. Excellent thought, Hannahcares! I finally found the link..

Zingerman’s Mail Order
You can also have our food shipped anywhere in the country here!

http://www.zingermans.com/?utm_source=deli&utm_medium=zinglink&utm_campaign=zcobbar

[Cha]

46. thank you, Reccers!

[WillyT]

47. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[Cha]

48. ..

[Cha]

49. K

[diabeticman]

52. We need this gentleman in congress

[Cha]

54. ..

[Cha]

55. .

[Cha]

56. .

[Cha]

57. .

[Cha]

58. .

[Brigid]

63. Dear Mr. Zingerman:

Please open a location here so that I can patronize it.

Love, Brigid

[Cha]

64. Contact him, Brigid.. I just Liked them on FB through this link, too..

http://www.zingermans.com/ContactUs.aspx

[bkanderson76]

65. A True American Is Mr. Paul Saginaw...Thank You...nt

[Cha]

66. A man of honor and vision..

A Corner Deli With International Appeal

By MICHELINE MAYNARD

Published: May 3, 2007

snip//

"But Mr. Saginaw said profit, in itself, was not Zingerman’s motivation. “We’ve had dozens and dozens of opportunities to franchise, sell the name, take the check and walk away,” Mr. Saginaw said.

Instead, Mr. Weinzweig said, the idea was to create a special experience. “Our goal in 2020 is to leave our world better than it was when we came here,” he said."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/business/smallbusiness/03zingerman.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[marias23]

67. Zingermans vs. AOL

Compare this to the cheapskates at AOL..

[Cha]

69. And the "cheapskates" at walmart!

[marias23]

68. Vegetarians Support Zingermans

Check the menu - plenty of meatless choices. What a beautiful - concept they pay a thrivable wage.

[Cha]

70. Of which I am one.. thanks marias!

[ProSense]

71. The claims

"Deli Chain Owner Pays His Employees Above Minimium Wage, Offers Health and Dental Bennies, Paid Time Off, and Retirement Plans...It can be done and businesses like Zingerman's are Living Proof!"

...that it can't be done or will hurt business have always been lies.

[Cha]

73. It can be DONE if GREED doesn't factor into the equation!

[Voice for Peace]

72. I LOVE him

This is how it happens!

Happy to share this far and wide.

[Cha]

77. An article on Paul Saginaw and his partner from 2007, VfP.. :)

A Corner Deli With International Appeal

By MICHELINE MAYNARD

Published: May 3, 2007

snip//

"But Mr. Saginaw said profit, in itself, was not Zingerman’s motivation. “We’ve had dozens and dozens of opportunities to franchise, sell the name, take the check and walk away,” Mr. Saginaw said.

Instead, Mr. Weinzweig said, the idea was to create a special experience. “Our goal in 2020 is to leave our world better than it was when we came here,” he said."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/business/smallbusiness/03zingerman.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[Voice for Peace]

82. thanks!

[maddiemom]

74. Good Deli stuff:

This calls to mind a deli, Belle's Delicatessen, in a mall near Pittsburgh forty or so years back. I think it was the Monroeville Mall, scene of Romero's "Dawn of the Dead." Without going into Pittsburgh (mostly Squirrel Hill area), you could get great food there, or so we thought in western PA back then. There was also a sandwich shop in Butler, PA where my aunt from the DC area turned me on to kosher corned beef. We also used to pack a cooler and drive for up to fifty miles to load up with great cheeses. Off topic I know, but it's unbelievable how much work it used to be to get a variety of good "ethnic" foods. Now a variety of places are all around outside of the city. Supermarkets pack everything, if not as good as the "real stuff." A hole in the wall Italian store in the town where I grew up got business from everywhere in western PA. Otherwise you had to hit ethnic neighborhoods in the city. Sorry, I just got on a roll.

[Cha]

86. A Deli Roll..

maddiemom

[Arkana]

75. 630 employees? I hope he has more than one establishment, otherwise it must

get cramped in there

[Cha]

87. LOL.. Lucky for them and their

employees.. they have plenty of Zingerman businesses for his generosity of spirit, Arkana!

"Zingermans’s ethos seems to be in stark opposition to the restaurant lobby and most corporate lobbies. Paul Saginaw, one of the original two Zingerman’s founders, can’t wrap his brain around why corporate lobbies are motivated primarily by profit. “Maybe there’s limits to generosity but probably no limit to greed,” he told RH Reality Check. “All I know is we created our businesses intentionally based on what we wanted to be, and the life we wanted to live.”[/I\

[Liberal_in_LA]

78. crazy man!

[Cha]

88. Generous of Spirit

Crazy!

[pkdu]

80. My wife is at the Zingermans Bakehouse all weekend as a birthday Prezzie...who knew they were so

progressive! Thanks!

[Cha]

89. How Cool is that, pkdu! Happy Birthday

Mrs pkdu!

[Rider3]

81. Bless this man...

For taking care of his employees. He's a true job creator!

[Cha]

92. A job creator who don't want to leave!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

83. i LOVE this!!

Yay!!!!!

[Cha]

94. Right up our alleys hey

Blanche!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

97. Yes!

That's what I think Liberal Core Values are about. I expect that from liberals. (can't always say that's what I get, but I DAMN SURE ain't never and ain't gonna get it from repukes.)

[Cha]

98. ..

[niyad]

93. . . .

[Cha]

95. Mahalo, niyad~

[niyad]

96. thank you for posting this article. and glad to know there is mail order. a THRIVING WAGE

what an astounding concept.

[Cha]

99. You're Welcome, niyad! THRIVING WAGE!