Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust has been accredited as a living wage employer, resulting in all staff now earning a minimum of £11.05 per hour.
More than 2,000 workers employed by the trust have had their pay rates increased to the London living wage rate. Nearly 750 members of staff employed by the trust’s contractors, including its catering, cleaning and portering teams from ISS and security staff from CIS Security, have also had their pay raised to meet this rate.
The trust sought accreditation because ensuring its lowest-paid staff receive fair and reasonable pay is one of its priorities, which is particularly crucial in light of the current cost-of-living challenges.
The living wage is an hourly rate of pay that is independently calculated each year by the Living Wage Foundation based on the cost of living in the UK. The London living wage is higher than the national minimum wage of £6.83 per hour for those aged 18 to 20, £9.18 per hour for those aged 21 to 22, and £9.50 per hour for people aged 23 and above.
Ben Travis, chief executive of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, said: “I'm proud to announce that we have formal accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation as a London living wage employer. This is something we have been working on for the last two years, working with our partner organisations to achieve this. Our staff across the trust work tirelessly to provide high-quality care for our patients, and this shows our commitment to our lower-paid colleagues.”
Mike Bell, chair of the trust, added: “It’s so important that staff receive a fair wage, especially during this challenging time with the rising cost of living. I’m delighted that we have achieved accreditation as a London living wage employer ensuring a salary higher than the minimum wage for all.”
