Mage Control Systems have joined SSE, abrdn, 1st Alliance Credit Union, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, Dear Green Coffee Roasters North Lanarkshire Carers Together and ACS (Advanced Clothing Solutions) as an accredited Living Hours employer in Scotland. They are the 8th employer to receive this accreditation in Scotland and the 16th in the UK.
The Living Hours accreditation requires employers to both pay the real Living Wage (£9.90/hr) to all their employees over the age of 18 and commit to providing at least four weeks’ notice for every shift, with guaranteed payment if shifts are cancelled within this notice period.
Living Hours employers also provide a guaranteed minimum of 16 hours every week (unless the worker requests otherwise), and a contract that accurately reflects hours worked.
East Kilbride based Mage Control Systems recently celebrated its 3-year anniversary of becoming an accredited Living Wage employer after joining the network in April 2019. The company has a strong commitment to promoting staff wellbeing and choosing to become Living Hours accredited was the next logical step to ensure their employees are provided with security of hours alongside the real Living Wage.
Research published last year by the Living Wage Foundation showed that 11% of workers in Scotland are in insecure work and paid below the Living Wage. This is approximately 300,000 workers. The Living Hours standard was created to ensure that people have predictable working patterns and income, enabling them to better plan their lives.
In July 2021 Living Wage Scotland began delivering the Living Hours accreditation programme to increase the number of Scottish employers recognised for offering Living Hours alongside a real Living Wage. Mage Control Systems is the fifth employer to benefit from the scheme which is delivered through the Living Wage Scotland programme at the Poverty Alliance and is funded by the Scottish Government.
Janet Menzies, Operations Director at Mage Control Systems said:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive accreditation as a Living Hours employer. Fair and supportive working practices are crucial to our inclusive team culture and also to the well-being of our staff.
To also discover that we are one of the first companies in Scotland to be recognised in this way is really affirming. It is even more exciting to hear that Mage Control Systems is the first company in both South Lanarkshire and in East Kilbride to be accredited.
We would love to encourage more local businesses to apply for Living Hours accreditation showing a meaningful commitment to the highly valued people in all of our organisations.”
Minister for Employment and Fair Work Richard Lochhead said:
“I am pleased to see Mage Control Systems continued commitment to paying the real Living Wage and I congratulate them on gaining Living Hours Accreditation today. They are joining a growing number of employers who are taking additional steps to protect their workers from low pay and insecure work.
I encourage other Living Wage Accredited employers to look at the scheme and, like Mage Control Systems, sign up to become Living Hours accredited.”
Christine McCaig from Living Wage Scotland said:
“There are over 2500 Scottish-based employers that are committed to paying at least the real Living Wage, and it’s fantastic to see Mage Control Systems take further steps to protect their workers from low pay and insecure work by becoming Living Hours accredited.
The values that led them to commit to the real Living Wage are the same values that have led to their expanded commitment to fair work at a time when workers need it most.”
Commenting, East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson said:
“It was great to visit Mage Control Systems again today and to congratulate them on their Living Hours accreditation. Mage is an amazing, innovative company and an East Kilbride success story. Despite all the challenges of recent years, the business continues to grow. Alongside that growth, Mage is committed to its staff – and it’s excellent to see the dedication to pay employees the real Living Wage and ensure they have fair working hours and notice of shifts.
I hope other local companies will follow Mage’s lead and ensure employees have excellent conditions. I look forward to seeing Mage continue its success while cementing its role as a great East Kilbride employer.”