Boost for Boots staff


Chemist chain Boots is increasing the starting rate of pay for customer assistant staff outside of London by 7%, and that of customer assistants in London by 3%.


Customer assistants based outside of London will get a basic rate of £7.70 an hour — up from £7.20 — and those based in London will see their base rate rise from £8.77 to £9.07 in April 2016.


The increase will ensure all hourly paid employees will begin on a higher rate than the National Living Wage, regardless of their age. The statutory £7.20 National Living Wage rate will come into effect from April 2016 for staff aged 25 and over.


However, even after the rise, the hourly rates are below the voluntary Living Wage currently set at £8.25 an hour outside of London and £9.40 in London. The voluntary Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.


www.employeebenefits.co.uk/boots-uk-increases-base-pay-for-hourly-paid-staff


www.livingwage.org.uk