Yorkshire based disability services and support organisation Safespaces has become a real living wage employer, accredited by the Living Wage Foundation.
The organisation, which has committed to paying the real living wage to all employees, chose to implement the standard to aid health and wellbeing, as well as a means of continually being a responsible employer.
The living wage is an independently set hourly rate of pay, calculated according to the basic costs of living. Employers pay the living wage rate, which is updated annually, on a voluntary basis.
The real living wage is distinct from the statutory national living wage, which is currently paid to employees aged 25 and over. The current legal minimum requirement that an organisation must pay its employees currently stands at £8.72 per hour for employees over 25.
Safespaces joins nearly 7,000 UK employer that have voluntarily committed to paying employees the real living wage.
Jill Morony, managing director at Safespaces, said: “I am delighted that we are now joining many organisations offering the real living wage. We are continually looking for new ways to improve the lives of our staff and becoming an accredited employer was an easy decision for us to make. It strengthens our commitment to being a responsible employer and helps us improve employee health and wellbeing.”