Holiday Hamster has today been accredited as a Living Wage Employer. Their Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Holiday Hamster receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.90, significantly higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £9.50 per hour.
Committed to Fair Pay
Holiday Hamster is based in Yorkshire and the Humber, a region where almost a fifth of all workers (18.5%) earn less than they need to get by, with over 410,000 jobs paying less than the real Living Wage. Despite this, Holiday Hamster has committed to pay the real Living Wage and deliver a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.
The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers who wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum. Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 300,000 people and put over £1.6 billion extra into the pockets of low-paid workers.
Recognising Employees
“We firmly believe that every member of our team plays an integral part in our success…” said Hayley Walker, Director of Holiday Hamster. “…Our commitment to becoming a Living Wage accredited employer is a testament to our belief in recognising the importance of providing our employees with a wage that genuinely reflects living costs, ensuring they can support themselves and their families. By doing so, we are not just investing in our workforce, but also contributing to the broader social aim of reducing wage inequality.“
The Mark of a Responsible Employer
Katherine Chapman, Director of The Living Wage Foundation said: “We’re delighted that Holiday Hamster has joined the movement of almost 9,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.
“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Liverpool Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like Holiday Hamster, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.“
