Low pay and the National Living Wage: why employers should do more than the minimum

Our very own Tess Lanning, Head of Policy and Business Engagement here at the Living Wage Foundation has written a compelling piece for the real Living Wage and why employers should go further than just the government minimum. 

Recent research revealed that 5.6 million people earned less than the wage they needed to meet their everyday basic needs last year.

This is the same number of people struggling as the previous year - despite attempts by the government to close the cost of living gap through the introduction of a higher minimum wage for over 25 year olds. The government's 'national living wage' led to a significant pay rise for many employees, but it is not calculated according to what people need to make ends meet. At £7.20, it is lower than the real Living Wage - independently-calculated based on the best available evidence about the cost of living and currently set at £8.45, and £9.75 in London.

The Living Wage campaign is also about encouraging employers to do more than simply abide by the law. It recognises the leadership of responsible employers who voluntarily take a stand by ensuring their staff earn a real Living Wage that meets the cost of living, not just the government minimum.

Today nearly 3,000 employers have joined the Living Wage movement. This includes ...READ MORE