Letter to the Globe: When Should a Business Raise Salaries?

The Globe and Mail published this letter in its December 13 issue, with only very minor editorial changes.

Re “As AI reshapes hiring, starting pay stagnates at Canada’s consulting firms” (December 5): Namaan Mian, chief operating officer of Management Consulted, is quoted as follows: “With firms able to attract all the talent they need and the quality of talent that they need, why would they raise salaries?”

I can think of a few reasons why businesses should raise salaries even when they don’t have to. Fostering a good work environment; making sure workers’ incomes keep pace with inflation; following the principle of basic fairness; acknowledging that we all have a responsibility to care for our fellow human beings—those are just a few.

Business leaders who believe they should only raise wages when market conditions force them to do so are the sorts of business leaders who turn young people (and many reasonable people of all ages) against capitalism.