NHS 24, Scotland’s provider of digital and telephone-based health and care services, has become accredited as a Living Wage employer. Their Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at NHS 24 receive a minimum hourly wage of £12.60 per hour. This rate is higher than the government minimum for over 21s, which currently stands at £11.44 per hour.
In Scotland, 91% of all jobs pay at least the real Living Wage, this is higher than any other UK nation. Despite this, nearly 1 in 10 jobs still pay less than the real Living Wage which equates to 234,000 jobs.
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the costs of living. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis, recognising the value of their workers and ensuring that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay.
Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 68,000 people in Scotland and put over £600 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
Dr Jacqui Hepburn, NHS 24’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Workforce said:
“We are incredibly proud to have achieved Living Wage accreditation at NHS 24. As an anchor institution, we recognise the vital role we play in our community and the importance of ensuring that all our employees receive fair salaries. By committing to the Living Wage, we are not only supporting our staff but also positively impacting their families, loved ones, and the surrounding communities. This accreditation reflects our dedication to valuing our workforce and providing them with the financial stability they deserve. We encourage other organisations to join us in this commitment and seek Living Wage accreditation themselves, championing fair pay for all workers.”
Peter Kelly, CEO of The Poverty Alliance said:
“We all need an income that is enough to cover our needs and protect us from poverty, and it’s only right that employers pay a wage that reflects the cost of living. Too many workers in Scotland are paid less than the real Living Wage and, at a time of rising costs, are struggling to stay afloat. The real Living Wage can offer protection from those rising costs.”
“Congratulations to NHS 24 on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited.”
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said:
“We’re delighted that NHS 24 has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of over 3700 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need.
Our Living Wage employer network includes well known organisations such as SSE plc, ENABLE Scotland and the University of Strathclyde as well as lots of smaller employers and we hope to see many more follow their example.”