We are delighted to introduce Meredith Adams who has joined our Living Wage Scotland Leadership Group. The Group is made up of employers and experts from across Scotland, whose role is to provide advice on the implementation and future development of our work.
Meredith is Social Impact Manager at Standard Life Aberdeen where she aims to ensure the company operates responsibly and takes action on key social issues. In her free time, Meredith enjoys being outdoors and experiencing the wonderful nature and wildlife that Scotland has to offer.
We caught up with Meredith recently and asked her to share here experiences and thoughts on the real Living Wage.
What do you think are the most important priorities for the Living Wage campaign as we build back?
Sustaining and then growing impact. After an initial slowing down period, the number of companies joining the Living Wage network as accredited employers has returned to pre-pandemic levels so we’ve completed the first step. During what’s been a very difficult time for many, it’s great to see companies prioritise the wellbeing of their workers and commit to investing in them financially. As we come out of the pandemic, I’m looking forward to welcoming many more organisations to the network and continuing to grow the campaign’s positive impact on low paid workers.
What role do you see Living Wage playing in Scotland’s recovery?
Scottish Government data shows that the unemployment rate has increased since the start of the pandemic. More young people are out of work as many entry level jobs in industries such as hospitality and retail were impacted by lockdowns and currently, more women are unemployed than men. To reduce these inequality gaps and others, people need access to fairly paid and secure work. Paying the Living Wage is a simple but effective step towards this goal and must be prioritised as local and national economies recover.
Why do you think committing to the Living Hours initiative is important for Standard Life Aberdeen & the sector as a whole?
Being paid a Living Wage is so important but it’s just the start. Research shows there are millions of people across the UK who despite being in work, don’t have the job and wage security they need. Living Hours goes beyond base pay to also give workers security of hours and working patterns. This is so important to give people financial security, as well as the ability to plan and manage their work-life balance.
In light of this, we were proud to become one of the first two Living Hours accredited companies and also to work with a range of organisations to design the accreditation. This was the logical next step for us after becoming a Living Wage employer in 2014 and we hope to use our influence to encourage other organisations to get involved.
What’s the best/most enjoyable thing about working for Standard Life Aberdeen?
The global nature of the company means I get to work with people all across the world. I love working across cultures and meeting people I would never normally have the opportunity to get to know.
Why do you think the real Living Wage is more important than ever?
Key workers in jobs such as cleaning and social care roles have rightly been celebrated during the pandemic. But we also know that these sectors, and others where people continued delivering frontline services, have a high number of people not earning the Living Wage. The mismatch between the important work these people do and how they are valued needs to change.
What’s been getting you through the pandemic?
Watching the seasons change outside my window. The slowing down that’s come with my working from home routine means I’m much more attentive to watching what’s happening in nature. Pre-covid I had no idea about how many birds were right under my nose!
What are you personally hoping for in the next year?
With a freshly elected Scottish Parliament and COP26 coming to Glasgow, this is a big year for Scotland. I hope we take this opportunity to set bold targets for the future – both environmental and social – and lead by example.