The Living Wage: I want to live not just exist

A step-by-step guide to becoming an accredited Living Wage employer. The guide is based on the experiences of employers in both the public and private sector. 

UNISON and the National Society are working together to help dioceses and schools implement the Living Wage motion passed by the General Synod in November 2012. The guide is based on the experiences of employers in both the public and private sector.

Accreditation to the Living Wage Foundation requires three milestones:

• All directly employed people over the age of 18 are paid no less than the Living Wage.
• The school agrees to increase its minimum rate of pay in line with the Living Wage.
• A plan must be in place to ensure that all staff employed by contractors providing a service(s) for the school on a regular basis, are paid the Living Wage by a target date.  

The guide outlines steps for directly employed members of staff, which include: assembling a team of key people to implement the Living Wage; reviewing rates of pay; considering impact on pay differentials when increasing the minimum rate of pay; and presenting an implementation plan to governors.

Steps for contractors include: informing all contractors of intention to become a Living Wage employer; working with contractors to review rates of pay to bring contracted staff up to the Living Wage; then either waiting until contracts are up for renewal to make that a condition of the new contract, or asking contractors to ‘agree’ to increase the minimum rate of pay for those providing services for the school.