CHAPEL HILL, NC — For the past 15 years, the NC General Assembly has not granted a wage increase for minimum wage workers at the beginning of the year.
As a result, North Carolina is one of about 20 states that will not see an increase in its minimum wage, which remains at $7.25 an hour.
A Chapel Hill man feels lucky to work for a company that pays a living wage.
“Just starting with my morning cup of tea, which is very important for an Englishman,” said Robert Kelly.
Kelly starts her day around 7:30 am She drinks tea and chats with her puppies.
“I just finished my morning snack, which is an apple, which my dog, Brighton, loves apples. Named after my favorite soccer team in England, Brighton and Hove Albion,” Kelly joked.
And before you know it, the Londoner is out the door.
“But because it was a bit foggy and rainy on the trails, I had to wear boots,” Kelly said.
Kelly works at Walk and Wag — a pet care service.
He works 40 hours per week, taking care of about 10 clients a week, from dogs, cats, chickens and even dragon lizards.
Kelly says taking care of pets full-time gives her a good living.
Working for a pet care company allows Robert Kelly to work mostly from home. (Spectrum News 1/Jatrissa Wooten)
“We have lived in this house since about 2007 when we moved here from France. We’ve actually owned the house since about 1996,” Kelly said.
Before this, Kelly was a DJ then a teacher making a modest salary. But Walk and Wag allows Kelly to stay in her home.
“My property taxes in Chapel Hill (are) off the bloody charts,” Kelly said.
Working at a pet care company, Kelly says it’s like having a 9 to 5 job with more freedom and flexibility.
Team members are available 365 days a year but can choose whether they want to work part or full time.
“In the same kind of geographic area as Chapel Hill, Carrboro, little parts of Durham, too,” Kelly said.
Kelly said he hates that North Carolina hasn’t raised its base salary.
“It’s disgusting that the minimum wage is $7.25,” Kelly said.
The pet care team member explained twice that that amount was still not enough.
“But even $15 or $16, honestly, I think it’s too low,” Kelly continued. “But I’m European, so, you know, I have a different perspective on these things.”
Kelly says she’s lucky with Walk and Wag and says not only is she making more than a livable wage doing something she loves, she’s got a family.
“So much of it is not just about how you relate to the pet, but how you relate to the owners, because you become part of their extended family,” Kelly said.
In 2021, the legislature raised most state employee minimum wages to $13 an hour and $15 the following year.
Lawmakers have set a goal of raising the public employee minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2018 but the public has not considered any bills that would raise the private sector minimum wage.
