British governing body, Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which employs 800 staff, has announced its commitment to pay all employees rates that at least match the living wage. Following this commitment, the trust has gained accreditation as a living wage employer.
The living wage, which is calculated each year to meet the cost of living and supporting a family in the capital, is currently set by the Living Wage Foundation at £10.75 per hour in London and £9.30 for the rest of the UK. The current legal minimum requirement that an organisation must pay its employees currently stands at £8.75 per hour for employees over 25.
This commitment is part of LTA’s aim to retain and attract employees and it hopes to encourage other organisations to follow suit. The organisation is the first national governing body to join the Living Wage Foundation, joining businesses like Aviva, Barclays and BP.
Vicky Williams, people director at LTA, said: “The LTA is proud to become the first British sporting national governing body to be accredited as a living wage employer. Integrity is one of our core values and we believe in paying a meaningful wage to make a positive impact on our employees’ lives, no matter their position, age or location.
“Our employees are the lifeblood of our organisation and by paying a fair wage we are able to attract and retain the best people to deliver our vision of tennis opened up. We hope other businesses and organisations in the UK will be encouraged to become real living wage employers too.”