Information for employers

Being paid the real living wage means not just being another number on a spreadsheet. It’s been really good of them to do this for us. One word: brilliant. It makes you feel more appreciated.

There are lots of incomings and outgoings, so I’m not just another ball of mozzarella or a bottle of Coke. I’m an investment—someone worthwhile keeping. They’re not just going to swap me out for another minimum wage contract worker like many places would.

In our industry, roles are typically quite low-paid. People deserve to be valued, and if you're paid something called the minimum wage, that doesn’t say you’re valued. People who work in social care need to be recognized, and the foundation for that is a fair wage—a real wage that reflects the hard work and dedication they put into their jobs.

As a single parent, it’s helped with bills and fuel costs, which have all gone up. Without the living wage, I’m not sure where we’d be. As a farmer, I don’t know where the extra money would have come from.

If you pay people what they’re worth, you’re more likely to keep them because they’ll feel valued and want to stay. We are the 500th employer in Greater Manchester and the first theater in the Northwest to become fully accredited as a real living wage employer.

You feel more supported because you can actually afford to do things. We’re able to attract more people for the roles we advertise now. But more importantly, it’s not just about paying a fair wage for a fair day’s work—it’s about being seen as an organization that looks after its team.

Someone has to care for the carers—the people doing frontline work, the heroes who were there throughout the pandemic. It’s a huge recognition of that. Paying people fairly for a day’s work sounds simple and is something we should live up to. That’s why we became a real living wage employer.

Saturn has been a real living wage employer for the last six years. During that time, we’ve seen significant increases in engagement, morale, and loyalty. Our engagement scores have consistently improved since we introduced the living wage.

One of the biggest impacts on productivity is the amount of discretionary effort we’re seeing—employees go above and beyond without being asked, simply because they feel valued. Absenteeism has decreased, and this is reflected in our monthly KPIs.

Since becoming a real living wage employer, our recruitment has improved, staff turnover has decreased, and clients have noticed the better quality of our officers. Our staff retention rate is 92.7%, which is outstanding for the industry.

I’ve been in the security industry for 23 years, and at Adept, we strive to be better and different. Since paying the real living wage, our annual employee engagement surveys have shifted focus—from wages to working environment. People are no longer asking for more pay; they’re asking for better equipment and ways to improve their departments. Innovation has increased across the board—from production to customer delivery.

Being paid the real living wage makes me more engaged and productive. I feel positive about going above and beyond for an organization that values me. Financially, it’s a commitment to people that fosters fairness and transparency. I stay with Saturn not only for the fair wages but also for the additional benefits like the Saturn Savings scheme and the Helping Hand Fund, which have been especially helpful during the cost-of-living crisis.

It’s made a massive difference. I can focus on working my hours and taking necessary time off without worrying about chasing overtime. This rest boosts my productivity. It gives us a reason to perform at our best. I respect my employers because they pay us fairly, and that makes me want to commit more to my job and explore opportunities to progress.

I feel my organization genuinely cares about me and others, and I see that in my daily interactions with coworkers. Compared to industry standards, our company stands out. I’d rather stay here because they pay me what I believe I’m worth.

Since we started offering the real living wage six years ago, we’ve had a 100% retention rate within that salary band. That’s had a real impact. It’s also great for wellness, especially during the cost-of-living crisis. Why would people leave when they’re being looked after?

At Adept, we’re committed to putting people first. We’re a real living wage and real living hours employer. We want to lead the industry and set the standard. It’s about building relationships that make a long-term difference—more sales, more innovation, better productivity, and better profit.

We found that when we introduced the living wage to site pastors, it made a real difference. If businesses truly want to change and improve, the living wage is a great place to start.