British Pest Control Association has gained accreditation as a real living wage employer, following assessment by the Living Wage Foundation.

In April 2022, the government’s living wage (national minimum wage) was set at £9.50 for employees aged over 23.

The voluntary real living wage, calculated independently every year to take into account factors such as the rising cost of living, has been set at £9.90 per hour, rising to £11.05 per hour in London.

The real Living Wage also recognises that under 23s have the same living costs as everyone else. 

A fair day's pay for a hard day's work

With the rising cost of living, the Living Wage has never been a more important lifeline for workers.

Ian Andrew, BPCA Chief Exec, commented: 

"Paying the real living wage is the responsible thing to do, particularly given the current cost of living crisis and people's worries about bills, rent or mortgage costs.

"We don't function without our staff team and while BPCA was already a living wage employer, the accreditation goes a step further in ensuring our team know that they are valued and their hard work does not go unnoticed.

"We would also encourage our members to consider become a living wage employer; it’s good for your workers and for your business, as it generates greater staff morale and productivity, and reduced staff absenteeism and turnover.

"There are already a few pest management companies accredited and we encourage others to consider to do the same, and BPCA are here to help you."

And what if you already pay a living wage? 

"It doesn’t matter if you already pay over the requirements for all your staff," says Ian. "It's still great to get the recognition that you do. And it is not just your own employees who are looked at in the accreditation process.

"The staff of any contractors you engage, such as cleaners, are also accounted for and that can only be a good thing."

BPCA joins thousands of other businesses as a living wage employer, such as Ikea, Barclays, East Midlands Railway and many more. 

LEARN MORE

To find out more about the Real Living Wage, visit the Living Wage Foundation website. 

livingwage.org.uk

Source: Online