This week is Living Wage Week, a moment to celebrate the employers and employees across the UK who believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Here at The Circle, we are celebrating 6 years of being an accredited Living Wage employer.
For us, becoming a Living Wage workplace felt like a natural step. As a community interest company working with a More Than Profit® business ethos, that aims to use its profits to fund and support positive social change, we know that how we treat our own staff should reflect the values we promote every day. That’s why we took time to look carefully at our pay structure and make sure everyone within the business earns at least the Real Living Wage. It’s been an opportunity to check that our internal practices align with our external purpose.
We’re proud that this accreditation recognises the commitment of our team, leadership, and board to fair pay and ethical employment.
“Since earning the Real Living Wage, I’ve noticed a real difference in both my own life and my family’s. It’s taken a lot of financial pressure off our household and made it easier to budget for the things we need and even enjoy a bit of personal fun without financial worry. I feel more secure and comfortable now, and my work–life balance has improved so much. Knowing that my employer values fair pay makes me feel respected and supported.” – Abu, It Support Assistant & Mobility Operative.
Our accreditation isn’t the end of the story, it’s a part of a greater commitment we’ve made to ensuring we have a fair and ethical workplace for our staff, tenants and customers. As a Gold standard accredited member of the 4 Day Week Foundation, we’re proud to be championing ways of working that prioritise wellbeing, balance, and fairness.
We want to continue advocating for fair work, and to encourage other organisations in our network to take the same step. If you are considering becoming a Living Wage employer, you can find out more about the Living Wage Foundation at the links below.