RUA Life Sciences has become the latest accredited Living Hours employer in Scotland.
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.
RUA Life Sciences has been an accredited Living Wage employer since 2021. This announcement of their commitment to Living Hours further demonstrates the importance they place on setting standards for fair work. Research published this month by the Living Wage Foundation showed that over 9% of workers in Scotland are in insecure work and paid below the Living Wage. This is approximately 250,000 workers. The Living Hours standard was created to ensure that people have predictable working patterns and income, enabling them to better plan their lives.
Caroline Stretton, Group Managing Director, from RUA Life Sciences said:
“As an organization that places our employees at the heart of everything we do, achieving Living Hours accreditation was a natural step in our journey towards creating an inclusive and compassionate workplace. We firmly believe that a motivated workforce is the backbone of our success, and this accreditation reflects our dedication to fostering an environment of trust, respect, and fairness”.
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 RUA Life Sciences 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.”