Posted on: October 26, 2022
We are officially an accredited Living Wage Employer!
Early in the development of House of Books & Friends we decided to do everything we can to support our Booksellers. The cost of living crisis and dramatic changes in the economy quickly made it clear to us that pay would be a very important factor to our employees. A fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.
We hope that placing an emphasis on the financial wellbeing of our Booksellers will also have a good impact on their mental health. While we will be providing mental health awareness training to any Bookseller who would like to undertake it, and an employee assistance helpline for external support, it is also important to recognise the mental toll that financial pressures take.
In the North West, where our bookshop is situated, almost a fifth of jobs do not pay the real Living Wage of £10.90 per hour. When it comes to low pay, we aim to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. We want our Booksellers to feel like they can work, earn and live with dignity.
The Real Living Wage is calculated on how much it costs to buy a basket of everyday goods. It takes into account the cost of living in the UK (with a separate London-weighted wage). Take a look at the video below for a quick rundown of how the Living Wage Foundation do their sums!
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