A new milestone has been achieved in our campaign to tackle insecure work, with more than 50 employers now accredited as Living Hours employers in Scotland. These employers have committed to providing secure and stable hours alongside a real Living Wage.
Together these employers employ more than 40,000 staff and are committed to providing at least 4 weeks’ notice for every shift, with guaranteed payment if shifts are cancelled within this period; a guaranteed minimum of 16 working hours each week (unless the worker requests fewer), and a contract that accurately reflects hours worked.
This is fantastic progress but there is more work to be done. There are still 250,000 workers across Scotland in low paying jobs that provide little security. The ‘Precarious Pay and Uncertain Hours’ report also found that the Insecurity Premium – the term given to the additional cost implications faced by those in insecure work – could amount to as much as £600 per year for some workers. Travel costs for last minute shifts or paying for childcare when shifts have been cancelled are a examples of these additional costs.
To mark this milestone, we spoke with several of our newest accredited Living Hours employers to understand why they decided to make this commitment.
Hanover Healthfoods are an independent health store based in the centre of Edinburgh. who are celebrating 120 years of serving the people of Edinburgh and beyond with their staff’s extensive knowledge helping to build long term relationships with their customers. Their decision to sign up to Living Hours as well as Living Wage and Living Pensions reflects their ongoing commitment to their staff.
John McKee, Director, Hanover Healthfoods said:
“I signed up to Living Hours to complete the set! We are now Living Wage, Pension and Hours compliant. It is pretty unusual for independent retailers to make these commitments but I wanted to do it to show it can be done.
‘It is critically important to me as an employer to use my business as a positive force and making these commitments to the people who work for me is a moral priority.”
Streamline Corporate provide branded merchandise, clothing and print products. Based in Edinburgh they have been supplying brands across the globe for more than 55 years. They aim to innovate and pave the way forward for their industry, and this includes providing security of pay and hours to their team.
Roger Paterson, CEO, Streamline said:
‘As a proud Living Wage employer for the past 6 years, we were excited to hear about Living Hours. We want to do all we can to offer our employees the stability they need to be able to make important life decisions, secure in the knowledge that they have regular hours and a regular working pattern. It’s embedded in our core values, as a people-focused business, that we put in place assurances which support financial and mental wellbeing – Living Hours, alongside Living Wage, is a large part of our commitment to making sure we provide a decent standard of living for all our employees’.
PJs Foods are Scotland’s leading sandwich manufacturer and distributor, based in the North of Glasgow they supply to a range of organisations across the country including universities, schools, the NHS, councils and sporting events. As an employer with most staff coming from their local area it was important for PJs Foods to do all they could to support their team with secure hours as well as the Living Wage to in turn better support the community they are based within
Paul Chalmers, General Manager, PJs Foods said:
“At PJs Foods, we believe that ensuring our staff have stable and fulfilling work is paramount. Becoming a Living Hours employer reinforces our dedication to providing fair wages and hours that truly support our employees’ livelihoods.
We are incredibly proud to take this step forward in our journey towards creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered.”
Lucyna Pilarska, Production Operative, PJs Foods said:
“I am really happy that PJs foods has committed to Living Hours. This, along with the Living Wage, really helps me through the cost-of-living crisis and makes life easier for me”
Rachel Morrison-McCormick, Living Wage Projects Co-ordinator said:
“We are delighted to be celebrating our continually growing movement of Living Hours employers across Scotland. Reaching 50 accredited Living Hours employers is a significant milestone and shows increasing numbers of employers across Scotland are looking to provide security of hours alongside security of pay.
There is more to do though, we call on more employers across Scotland to get in touch and discuss Living Hours accreditation for your organisation.”