Posted on Tuesday 5th July 2016 by James Howell
Leading graduate employer, Majestic Wine, has signed up to pay all of its staff the Living Wage.
Majestic Wine is the latest employer to sign up to the Living Wage. Staff at Majestic Wine will now receive a minimum of £8.25 an hour and £9.40 for in London. The Living Wage is a voluntary accreditation and ensures staff receive a significantly higher wage than George Osborne's national living wage - which will pay £7.20 an hour to employees over the age of 25.
The Living Wage Foundation sets an hourly rate using the 'Minimum Income Standard' for the UK. The figure is updated annually to keep pace with inflation and rising costs of living.
"We are delighted to welcome Majestic Wine to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer," says Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation.
"The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day's work with a fair day's pay."
Majestic Wine's People Director Louise Ellis says Living Wage accreditation will help staff provide a greater service to customers.
"At Majestic we value our fantastic employees who inspire and delight our customers every day with a great range of wines and services," Louise told The Grocer. "I am very proud Majestic is now an accredited employer of the Living Wage Foundation and I hope other retailers follow."
Katherine says the Living Wage Foundation has accredited employers in a range of sectors.
"We have accredited over 2,500 leading employers, including Majestic Wine, ranging from independent printers, bookshops and breweries, to well-known companies such as Nationwide, Aviva and SSE."
"These businesses recognise that clinging to the national minimum wage is not good for business. Customers expect better than that."
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, says Living Wage Foundation accreditation should be a badge of honour for employers.
"I am determined to tackle low pay across the capital, working with employers to make London a Living Wage city," he says. "The Living Wage should be seen as a badge of honour for businesses and I hope many more will follow the fine example of Majestic Wine, TSB and Brecon Carreg and sign up to this scheme."
"As well as making a real difference to the quality of life for employees, there are clear benefits for businesses in increasing productivity, boosting morale and reducing staff turnover."