A Kirklees company has become one of the first in the region to become an accredited Living Wage Employer.
And Cleckheaton-based Howarths People and Safety Management has won praise for its commitment to the cause.
The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually, based on the cost living in the UK.
The Living Wage campaign has been running for 10 years and has lifted more than 45,000 people out of poverty.
An independent study of the business benefits of implementing a Living Wage policy found that more than 80% of employers believe that the Living Wage had enhanced the quality of the work of their staff.
Some 70% of employers felt that the Living Wage had increased consumer awareness of their organisation’s commitment to be an ethical employer.
Gavin Howarth, managing director, said “Becoming a Living Wage employer is something that we are very proud of and is in line with our core values and vision of being a responsible and sustainable employer in the region”.
Rhys Moore, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said “The benefits the Living Wage brings to staff and business are clear. I welcome the leadership shown by Howarths on this important issue.”
