The impact of COVID-19 is felt by every person, organisation and community. Our network of Living Wage organisations and their staff in Scotland and across the UK are facing unprecedented challenges, yet we have already seen resilience and kindness from so many in the Living Wage movement and we look forward to sharing those stories with you over the coming weeks.
The qualities and values that drove our network to go beyond the minimum and become Living Wage employers will be the ones that ensure that workers and their families are protected and that employers are able to meet the extraordinary challenges ahead.
The events of the last few days and weeks have shown that our labour market does not always reflect the values we have as individuals and communities. If it did, workers and families would not be at severe risk of being swept into poverty.
The conversation we all must be having soon is how our network can demonstrate that not only do they pay a fair wage, but that they also treat their staff fairly, even when faced with an immediate crisis. Businesses that make the right choices for their staff and value their most important assets, their people, will emerge stronger and even more respected. We need to amplify the voices of those who have been impacted by this crisis as well as those in positions to lead on changes.
Our team is working harder than ever to make sure people are paid the real Living Wage and that the employers we work with are supported. Over the coming weeks our team will be reaching out to speak with hundreds of employers. If you want to talk to our team about your organisation’s response to COVID-19 contact us via accreditation@povertyalliance.org
Yours
Living Wage Scotland Team