The cost of living impacts many people across the UK, who, despite working full-time, can still struggle to make ends meet.
The national minimum wage is still a relatively new concept in the UK, being introduced as recently as 1999. Despite having a minimum wage, however, the current rate does not always match the current cost of living.
Individuals living on a minimum wage salary can find it extremely difficult to afford the costs of everyday life without extra support.
This extra support can come in the form of Government assistance, or from an employer, who opts to pay a real living wage.
In this post, we will look at what it means to be a living wage employer and see how more employers can sign up to make a difference to their employees.
What is the Real Living Wage?
It is a voluntary payment scheme used by over 14,000 UK businesses.
The aim is to pay people a wage they deserve, one that meets their everyday needs – like paying for the weekly shop – and giving people the ability to save for a rainy day.
The living wage can be applied by any business from any sector wanting to make a change. If the business can demonstrate that they can pay a living wage, they can apply.
By increasing the real living wage, you create more value for your employees.
In April 2024 the UK National Minimum Wage rose to meet the National Living Wage.
This increase is great for workers but is still lower than the Real Living Wage. So, how does this compare to the Real Living Wage?
National Minimum Wage (NMW) | Real Living Wage |
£11.44 | £12 (Across UK) £13.15 (In London) |
The monetary difference doesn't seem much at first glance; however, the Real Living Wage is the only UK rate of pay calculated according to the cost of living, based on a basket of household goods and services.
The Living Wage Foundation was founded with the belief that employees are deserving of a fair pay for their hard work.
The rate is completely voluntary, and there is no legal requirement for businesses to pay their employees a real living wage, however, each year more businesses are signing up for the scheme to support their employees.
Why is the Real Living Wage important?
The cost of living in the UK can fluctuate greatly. Political and economic factors can influence the cost of everyday goods.
Even today, the impact of events like the COVID-19 pandemic and BREXIT can still be felt in the price of the things we buy every day.
While prices can go up, they can also come down. Fuel prices are constantly changing up and down depending on external factors that impact the supply.
But more often than not, when prices go up, they rarely come down again.
Minimum wage was not introduced specifically for improvements with cost of living.
And though the government makes efforts to increase the National Minimum Wage regularly, it’s typically just below what would be considered as a fair living wage.
Businesses that pay the real living wage see several benefits. There’s usually an improvement in workplace efficiency and morale.
According to the Living Wage Foundation, businesses that show this level of commitment to their employees help them feel valued, and as a result, they’re more committed to their work.
How to calculate the Real Living Wage
The minimum wage is not calculated based on the cost-of-living standards, so using it as a basis for how much income a household needs is difficult.
The Real Living Wage, however, works off the cost of a typical expense of household goods and services. Based on those calculations the current real living wage in Wales and the rest of the UK is £12.
The rates are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence about living standards in London and the UK.
The basket of goods draws on the Minimum Income Standard to identify everyday living costs through public consensus.
Before 2016 the London Living Wage was calculated by the Greater London Authority and the UK rate was calculated by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University.
As a community-driven charity that supports people into employment, Môn CF has committed to becoming a Real Living Wage employer.
Môn CF is built around pushing communities forward, this accreditation has further illustrated our main belief in supporting the local communities to allow them to prosper.
We hope to be a catalyst for change on Anglesey, and hope other local employers join us as organisations paying the Real Living Wage.
How to become a Living Wage employer?
Any organisation, no matter how many employees they have can become a Real Living Wage employer.
If you’re a business owner and you’d like to make a difference to the lives of your employees in a way that shows you’re committed to them, contact the Living Wage Foundation today!
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