Company wins praise for ‘Living Hours’
Scottish energy provider SSE has been confirmed as an accredited Living Hours Employer, which means that, as well as paying the real Living Wage, it is committed to providing at least four weeks’ notice for every shift, with guaranteed payment if shifts are cancelled within this notice period. Living Hours employers also provide a guaranteed minimum of 16 working hours every week (unless the worker requests otherwise), and a contract that accurately reflects hours worked.
The Living Wage Foundation describes SSE as a leading advocate of the Living Wage movement. Laura Gardiner, LWF director, welcomed this step, at a challenging time: “As we look to start our economic recovery, there is strong public support for employers to provide their staff with stable and guaranteed hours. By becoming a Living Hours Employer, and committing to decent work, businesses like SSE are helping to lead us out of this crisis.”
In turn, SSE HR director John Stewart described the real Living Wage movement as an “incredible phenomenon”. The majority of SSE’s direct employees are already on contracts which meet the Living Hours requirements but, he added, “in time” Living Hours would flow through the company’s supply chain activities and benefit those working regularly on its behalf too.