Once again, West Wales pet nutrition company, Burns Pet Nutrition, are one of the leading organisations during Living Wage week, hosting the west Wales launch event and highlighting the benefit of paying workers a real Living Wage.
Last year, John Burns, owner of Burns Pet Nutrition, hosted an event for Living Wage week at their Parc y Bocs café in Kidwelly. This year, it will be a virtual event but with even more significance:
“We are pleased to be hosting the west Wales launch of Living Wage week again. Our employees are the most important part of our business and we treat all our staff with absolute respect. It has never been more important to support our workers and local community, and we see Living Wage as a real opportunity to invest in the future of our employees, our organisation and our region”.
With pressure on so many employers across the UK, the importance of ethical working terms and conditions is greater than ever. Employers accredited by the Living Wage Foundation recognise that workers need a wage which covers the cost of living.
The real Living Wage is independently calculated each year to determine the amount that workers need to earn to ensure they do not fall into ‘in-work’ poverty. The annual Living Wage Week is an opportunity to recognise accredited employers that pay their workers this rate as a minimum.
The week will be opened with the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, announcing the new rate and outlining the Government’s plans for the year ahead. This will be followed by launches in West and North Wales.
Burns Pet Nutrition have long been a champion of the real Living Wage and their event will involve regional employers. It is supported by Shadow Minister for Economy, Tackling Poverty and Transport, Helen Mary Jones MS. Ms Jones who commented:
“It is important for us to celebrate all the employers in Wales that have made a commitment to paying their workers a fair wage, especially those across more rural communities. The real Living Wage can help economic recovery post-Covid and I’m pleased to join Burns once again to highlight the work they do across the region; they are an inspiration”.
Sarah Hopkins is the Director of Cynnal Cymru, the accrediting body for the Living Wage in Wales. Ms Hopkins said that this year real Living Wage employers are playing an essential role in ensuring that fewer people suffer in the difficult economic climate:
“Living Wage employers in Wales have made a commitment to eradicate in-work-poverty by paying their employees a wage which enables them to live and not just survive. The week is about celebrating this, celebrating all the good that these Welsh organisations are doing, but this year this is set within a backdrop of such difficult times for so many individuals and employers. We need to make sure when we get through this crisis people are not going back to poverty wages. At Cynnal Cymru, we support employers with understanding the benefits off accreditation for their business.”
Katie Roderick, HR Manager at Burns Pet Nutrition works closely with the teams across the business. Katie champions the real Living Wage and feels that accrediting as a Living Wage employer was a vital part of their commitment and respect to every member of staff:
“Paying the real Living Wage enables our valued teams to participate in meaningful work and achieve a better work-life balance. It is just one of the ways we show everyone who works at Burns how much we appreciate them, and we have seen increased employee retention and engagement in return. Championing the Living Wage movement also maintains our excellent reputation as an employer of choice, and we endeavour to spread this message to fellow businesses.”
Living Wage week begins on Monday 9th November.
www.cynnalcymru.com/living-wage
If you want to find out more about the Living Wage or attend one of the events during Living Wage week, please email Bethan bethan@cynnalcymru.com or Mari Arthur mari@marthurmarketing.co.uk 07799431060.
