A charity that works closely with North Ayrshire Council says paying staff a decent wage is a “moral obligation”.

Living Wage Week, the annual celebration of the Living Wage Movement, runs until Sunday 10 November.

The council has proudly been a real Living Wage Employer since 2011 and continues to champion the cause to boost employees' income and well-being.

Another North Ayrshire employer that is proud to be Living Wage accredited is The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) in Saltcoats.

TACT delivers programmes and projects that improve people’s lives by encouraging, supporting and promoting community action.

Kaileigh Brown, Executive Director of TACT, said: “As a responsible employer, we believe we have a moral obligation to our team members and ensuring that staff have secure work, and decent pay is vital to that.

“For us, paying the real Living Wage isn't just about compliance, it's about creating a workplace where our staff feel valued, secure and motivated, which in turn benefits our organisation and the communities we serve.

“Being paid fairly for the work you do is something TACT feels very passionately about. We believe this is what everyone deserves, and so, we stand by the real Living Wage and put our staff first showing our commitment to fair treatment, respect, and financial security for all TACT staff.”

To boost staff’s work/life balance, TACT introduced a four-day working week in April 2023.

Kayleigh would encourage other employers to sign up for Living Wage accreditation, explaining: “Supporting the real Living Wage can contribute to a stronger local economy because staff have more disposable income to spend in their communities.

“This not only supports individuals but can also strengthen local businesses and the overall economy here in North Ayrshire.

“The real Living Wage is the only wage rate that is solely based on the cost of living. We recognise the cost of living is a constant challenge but ensuring a fair and decent salary has to be a top priority for all local businesses.”

To become accredited, companies must:

• Pay all directly employed staff aged 18 and over the real Living Wage and
• Pay or have a plan in place to pay contracted workers the real Living Wage.

Here in North Ayrshire, there are more than 50 Living Wage-accredited employers registered with Living Wage Scotland.

The hourly pay rate is independently calculated by the Resolution Foundation based on what people in the UK need to earn to afford a decent standard of living, and it is paid voluntarily by employers.

The price of childcare, transport, heating and housing are all taken into account when the rate is set. The rate for 2024 to 25, overseen by the Living Wage Commission, is £12.60 per hour – an increase of 60p per hour on last year.

The Living Wage rates for 2024 to 25 were announced on 23 October and employers are given six months – until 1 May 2025 - from this date to implement them. The Council made the decision to pay the new rate from 23 October.

The Cost-of-Living Crisis, sadly, continues to make life challenging for many people in our communities and organisations committing to paying the real Living Wage is a great way to support people.

Kayleigh says the feedback from TACT staff has been positive, adding: “We employ local people, with all staff currently residing in North Ayrshire.

“We have a high staff retention rate which is very important to us. Ensuring we keep our talented, skilled workforce is also a priority for TACT and paying the real Living Wage is just one of the many ways in which we do this.

“Feedback has shown our staff feel valued, supported, and listened too. Times are difficult, particularly financially, but ensuring we are committed to paying the real Living Wage will always remain a top priority for our board of directors.”

Published: 08 November 2024