Middlesex University Celebrates Living Wage Commitment In 2017
Middlesex University London has been accredited by the Living Wage Foundation as a Living Wage employer, which will see its workers – from permanent employees to third-party contractors – receive a minimum hourly London Living Wage of £9.75.
The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK, and is based on a basket of household goods and services. The sum is significantly higher than both the national minimum wage of £7.05 and the new minimum wage premium for over 25s of £7.50 per hour.
As the 25th university in the UK to commit to the Living Wage, Middlesex has announced its accreditation on the same day that the Living Wage Foundation releases its student survey in conjunction with the National Union of Students (NUS). The survey reveals that 79% of students said they would have a dim view of their employer if they paid anything less than the real Living Wage.
Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor, Middlesex University says, “Middlesex is a major employer and contributor to the Barnet and wider north west London economies, and is home to 20,000 students and 1,900 staff at our Hendon campus. It is important that we lead by example.
“Not only does our ethical commitment to the London Living Wage matter to our existing and potential students, but fair wages paid by other employers are crucial for so many of our students who have no choice but to work while they are studying with us.”
Living Wage Foundation Director, Katherine Chapman says, “We are delighted to welcome Middlesex University to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer.
“The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work for a fair day’s pay.
“We have accredited nearly 3,000 leading employers which range from independent printers, bookshops and breweries to well-known companies such as Nationwide, Aviva and SSE. These businesses recognise that clinging to the National Living Wage is not good for business. Customers – and in the case of Middlesex, students – expect better than that.”
The Living Wage Foundation is an initiative of Citizens UK. It both recognises and celebrates the leadership shown by Living Wage employers across the country. The Foundation accredits employers, co-ordinate the announcement of the real Living Wage rates each November, and also provides a public forum for the campaign.
Recent research by Middlesex University and the University of Liverpool found clear benefits experienced by small businesses who pay the voluntary living wage, including fewer employee disputes, an increase in productivity and motivation, and a reputational advantage over competitors. The study, Putting the Living Wage to Work, was the first UK-wide research of its kind to examine the motivation behind small to medium enterprises who pay the voluntary Living Wage.