Muckle Media has become the latest accredited Living Hours employer in Scotland. They join a growing network of Living Hours employers including Bruichladdich Distillery, Dear Green Coffee Roasters and R&W Scott.
The Living Hours accreditation requires employers to pay the real Living Wage 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.
Muckle Media has been an accredited Living Wage employer since 2017. This announcement of their commitment to Living Hours further demonstrates the importance they place on setting standards for fair work.
Research published in 2021 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. The scheme is delivered through the Living Wage Scotland programme at the Poverty Alliance and is funded by the Scottish Government.
Nathalie Agnew, Managing Director at Muckle Media said
“As Scotland’s first PR agency to certify as a B-Corp, ethics are important to us, and we believe in delivering fair working hours contracts for our team. It was a no-brainer to sign-up to the Living Hours initiative, and commit to the three core pledge areas. We believe our approach to flexible working and market leading holiday allowance, alongside our current 4.5 day week drive productivity and lead to a happier, healthier team.”
Jacquelyn Whyte, Creative Lead at Muckle Media added:
“Muckle Media allows me to combine parenting responsibilities with developing my career and making a positive impact on our clients through a fair contract and a working pattern based partly upon school hours.”
Christine McCaig, Projects Co-Ordinator, from Living Wage Scotland said:
“There are over 3000 Scottish-based employers that are committed to paying at least the real Living Wage, and it’s fantastic to see Muckle Media 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.”