The Scottish SPCA is now a Living Wage employer after signing up to pay all staff the real Living Wage.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity has been certified by the Living Wage Foundation and now pays all employees at least the real Living Wage of £9.50 per hour.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity employs over 380 members of staff, including over 120 animal care experts across nine rescue centres and one wildlife hospital. The charity also has a network of over 100 animal rescue officers and inspectors, working from Shetland to the Scottish Borders.
The charity has joined over 7,000 employers across the UK in signing up to voluntarily pay the real Living Wage, which is set based on the cost of living. It relies entirely on public donations to carry out is work, and 81p from every £1 spent goes directly on animal welfare.
The Scottish SPCA’s chief executive, Kirsteen Campbell, said:
“Given the nature of our work in animal welfare and supporting people and pets in crisis, we are well aware of how important it is that people have the income to meet the cost of living.
“Receiving accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation is testament to the Scottish SPCA’s commitment to the people who are part of our team. Everyone employed by this wonderful charity enriches the lives of the people and animals they help. Ensuring they receive a fair wage for this work is the right thing to do.”
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said:
“We are pleased to welcome Scottish SPCA to the Living Wage movement, ensuring that all staff across Scotland receive at least the real Living Wage of £9.50 per hour.
Work in the animal welfare sector requires skill, professionalism and expertise and it is fantastic to see Scottish SPCA rewarding their team for the complex and vital work that they do, especially during such a challenging time.
We know that staff that are fairly treated and well-rewarded are likely to deliver a higher quality of service and we hope that other organisations follow Scottish SPCA’s lead and choose to pay the real Living Wage, which reflects the real cost of living.”
Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance said:
“The real Living Wage can help loosen the grip of in-work poverty in Scotland.
The pandemic has shown just how much we rely on each other in difficult times and has shone a light on the crucial role of essential workers in keeping our society going. Payment of the real Living Wage allows those in work to become more included in society, better provide for their families, and feel that their value and hard work is recognised by their employer.
We are delighted to congratulate Scottish SPCA on becoming a Living Wage employer.”