A new programme to tackle insecurity over working hours and provide workers with real control over their lives has been launched by the Living Wage Foundation.
The Living Hours accreditation scheme requires organisations to pay the real Living Wage and commit to provide workers with at least four weeks’ notice of shifts, a contract that accurately reflects hours worked, and a contract with a guaranteed minimum of 16 hours a week.
The move follows research commissioned by the Living Wage Foundation that revealed that one in six workers are in low-paid, insecure forms of work, including short-term contracts, and contracts with unpredictable pay and hours.
The study also found that two million workers in low-paid, insecure work are parents; 22 per cent of workers aged 16–24 are in low-paid, insecure work, and in most types of insecure work measured, young people are worst affected. However, 46 per cent of employed people experiencing insecurity and low-pay at work are over the age of 35.
“The Living Wage has put almost £1bn extra into the pockets of more than 200,000 workers, but it’s increasingly clear that pay is not the only driver of in-work poverty. A lack of secure, stable hours is leaving millions of families struggling to keep their heads above water. This isn’t good for workers or businesses,” explained Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation.
“Constant uncertainty over the number of hours, timings of your shifts or the amount of pay you’ll get each week places people under enormous pressure. A shift cancelled at the last minute might sound small, but it can be the difference between being able to pay for your family’s dinner that night or going hungry. And being expected to work at short notice means you can’t plan around other costs and commitments.
“We’ve consulted with hundreds of workers, employers and trade unions in drawing up these measures to ensure they are ambitious but achievable. We believe Living Hours will provide an important new measure to fight in-work poverty and to provide workers and their families with stability and security.”
