Charity and social enterprise Scarf has received living hours employer accreditation as part of its commitment to being a fair and responsible employer.
The accreditation, which is awarded by the Living Wage Foundation, aims to tackle insecure work and ensures staff benefit from greater security and predictability in the workplace.
As a result of the living hours standard, Scarf’s employees are now guaranteed at least four weeks’ notice of shifts, contracts that reflect the hours they regularly work, and a minimum of 16 hours’ work per week.
The accreditation applies to both Scarf’s directly employed staff and its third-party contracted workers. This helps to ensure fair treatment across the whole organisation.
Scarf is also a living wage employer. It hopes that by positioning itself as an early adopter of the living hours standard, it is reinforcing its reputation as a fair, forward-thinking employer with a firm commitment to fair pay, secure hours, and tackling in-work poverty.
Lawrence Johnston, co-chief executive officer of Scarf, said: “As we celebrate Scarf’s 40th year, it feels fitting to mark this milestone with the living hours accreditation. Our team is our most important asset; without them, we couldn’t do the vital work we do in tackling fuel poverty and supporting households across Scotland. Scarf has always strived to be a fair employer, and it is fantastic to have this formally recognised through the living hours standard.”
Scarf also offers its employees flexible-working arrangements, a paid day off for birthdays, salary sacrifice and net pay deduction schemes, paid time for volunteering, a pension scheme, regular staff events, an employee assistance programme, a sick pay scheme, credit union membership and 35 days of annual leave, including five public holiday days.
