One hundred UK employers have now signed up to the Living Wage Foundation’s Living Hours scheme.
Aimed at tackling insecure work, Living Hours sees employers commit to providing at least four weeks’ notice for every shift, with guaranteed payment if shifts are cancelled within this notice period.
Living Hours employers also provide a guaranteed minimum of 16 working hours every week (unless the worker requests fewer), and a contract that accurately reflects hours worked. This commitment extends to regular third-party contractors.
Early adopters of the Living Hours scheme include major employers such as Aviva, SpareRoom and Wealthify, as well as small and medium-sized businesses across the country. According to the Living Wage Foundation, 50,000 employees stand to benefit from the measures so far.
“Over the past year, low pay and insecure employment have played a huge role in pushing households to the financial brink,” said Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation. “Reaching 100 accredited Living Hours employers is a significant milestone that shows the growing momentum behind the movement for secure hours and decent pay in the UK.”
Chapman added that predictable working hours alongside a real living wage are “the bedrock” of stable finances and a dignified life.
“It’s fantastic to see more and more employers leading the way in providing Living Hours alongside the Living Wage and we encourage others to sign up if they can,” she said.
Louise Woodruff, senior policy adviser at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, agreed that reliable hours and a real living wage are the foundations of good employment. “But we know from recent Living Wage Foundation research that millions of people are going without either,” she added. “The Living Hours scheme is a vital part of righting that wrong.”
