EMCOR UK has committed to pay the Real Living Wage to its employees that work in facilities leased to and occupied by the company.
The provider of facilities, asset and workplace management services has also further committed to work with all existing and potential customers and supply chain partners to promote the adoption of the Real Living Wage for all employees and will submit a separately costed Living Wage bid where possible.
The Living Wage was launched by Citizens UK in 2001 and the principle behind the Living Wage is that work should bring dignity and should enable families to enjoy the essentials of life. The Living Wage is calculated annually according to the basic cost of living in the UK and expressed as an hourly wage rate – both a national and London rate.
Currently the statutory National Living Wage for 21-24 year olds is £8.36 per hour and for 25s and over is £8.91 per hour. The voluntary Real Living Wage is £9.50 per hour across the UK and £10.85 in London.
Research by the Living Wage Foundation reveals that 80 per cent of employers believe that the paying the Real Living Wage has enhanced the quality of the work of their employees, while absenteeism has fallen by approximately 25%, and 75% say it has increased employee motivation and retention rates.
Nick Coulstock, Head of Employee Relations and HR Projects for EMCOR UK, said: “We are delighted that EMCOR UK has been awarded Recognised Service Provider status by the Living Wage Foundation. This recognition follows a determination from our senior leaders that we should pay a decent wage to our staff, who carry out vital work on behalf of our customers.
“We are proud to support this initiative which we hope will lead to an increase in wages for all our employees that are currently paid the National Living Wage so that they are earning a wage on which they can more easily afford to live and support their families.”
This commitment to pay the Real Living Wage where possible strengthens EMCOR UK’s objective to support two UN Sustainable Development Goals in particular: Goal 8 – to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; Goal 17 – to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.
