St Petrocs, an organisation that aims to end homelessness in Cornwall, has received living wage accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation.
The accreditation is part of its public commitment to its staff, meaning all of its employees will receive a minimum hourly wage of at least £10.90, which is higher than the current government minimum for those aged 23 and above of £10.42 per hour.
St Petrocs implemented the living wage in order to help staff to feel secure and in control, knowing they can pay bills, deal with the unexpected and are on track towards a healthy financial future. It explained that it shares the foundation’s vision of a society where in-work poverty no longer exists as this is linked with its mission to end homelessness in Cornwall.
Tom Beaumont, associate director of people and culture at St Petrocs, said: “In our line of work, we understand that rising living costs and low incomes trap people in precarious situations. For our staff, the benefits are clear. We are all at our best when we feel supported, happy and healthy, and financial stability is a critical pillar in everyone’s wellbeing.
“We have always been committed to fair pay and transparent pay processes across the organisation. That’s why we ensure all our job vacancies clearly advertise the salary, and it’s why we voluntarily report on our gender, disability and ethnicity pay gaps too. Becoming a living wage accredited employer is a further demonstration of that same commitment to fairness.”
St Petrocs offers its employees 33 days annual leave per year, enhanced parental leave and pay, paid time off for neonatal care and IVF treatment, a pension scheme, long-service awards, non-contributory life insurance, enhanced sick pay scheme, an employee assistance programme that includes access to counselling services, and free eye tests and vaccinations.