Paying staff REAL living wage 'the right thing to do', says Rutland care business
Nearly five million people in the UK are in low-paid and insecure jobs
A Rutland home care business is going above and beyond to pay staff the "right" wages, during a difficult cost of living period.
James Beech, owner of Radfield Home Care, voluntarily pays his staff more than the set real living wage, which he says makes employees feel well supported, and encourages them to provide the best possible care for the clients:
'It is a competitive job market and I think we all need to be doing what we can to take the worry about the cost of living away from people, to treat them fairly and to pay a fair wage.
'This is one way of demonstrating that we're doing that. So yeah, I think it's something that everybody should do.'
A little more makes a big difference
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate that is voluntarily paid by businesses to give their staff a pay that meets their basic needs.
Living Wage employers commit to paying all staff, including contracted workers, £11.05 an hour in London and £9.90 outside the capital, compared with the national minimum wage of £9.50.
READ MORE: More than 10,000 employers agree to pay the Real Living wage
Mr Beech thinks more businesses should sign on to pay staff a little bit more, especially during a time of mounting financial pressure:
'I think we're all aware at the moment just how challenging things can be for people with the increase in the cost of living. I think this particular bench mark is incredibly useful, to be able to work to and make sure that that worry about making ends meet is taken away from people.'
"The Living Wage movement is more vital than ever”
Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: "Reaching 10,000 Living Wage Employers is an historic milestone for the Living Wage movement.
"Since the campaign's beginnings 20 years ago, Living Wage accreditation has become a benchmark of responsible business in the UK” says Chapman.
"As inflation hits new highs, the Living Wage movement is more vital than ever” she goes on to say “nearly five million people are in low-paid and insecure jobs.”
"It's crucial that employers who can afford it protect those who will be most affected by price rises by paying a wage based on the cost of living."
Craig Hassall, chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall, which was recently accredited by the foundation, said: "Whilst we have been paying our own staff the equivalent of the London Living Wage for some time, to be officially endorsed means that now all of our workers and those that work with us through contractors will be properly and fairly compensated for their efforts.
"Many employers say that their staff are their greatest asset, and at the Hall this is especially the case."