Sponsored thread - Williams & Co introduce "living wage"

[Ray Stafford]

Trade only plumbing and heating merchant, Williams & Co, has announced the implementation of the Living Wage for all its workforce.

From 1[SUP]st[/SUP] October, the company, which has 28 branches in the South East, guarantees that all employees and on-site contracted staff will be paid at least the poverty-busting standard.

The Living Wage is a voluntary code for employers, run by the Living Wage Foundation. It is currently set at £8.80 per hour in London, and £7.65 per hour elsewhere in the country. It is founded on the principle that work should be the most effective route out of poverty.

Managing Director, Ray Stafford said:

“Our staff add an enormous amount of value, and it is only right that this should be recognised. Introducing the living wage is a key part of our long term strategy of being the premium employer in our sector.
For too long, certain job functions in this industry have been dogged by low pay and low expectations. I would challenge all our competitors to look at their pay policies, particularly for entry level staff, and ask themselves if they would want their children to come into our industry? We think we are the first merchant to sign up for the Living Wage, but I hope we won’t be the last”

London Mayor, Boris Johnson commented on the Living Wage:

“By building motivated, dedicated workforces, the living wage helps businesses to boost the bottom line and ensures that hard-working people who contribute to success can enjoy a decent standard of living”.

“Living Wage Week” from 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] – 8[SUP]th[/SUP] November will feature a range of initiatives aimed at celebrating companies already participating in the Living Wage programme, and encouraging others to join.

<press release ends>
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Its not a lot of money is it, £7.65 per hour? Or even £8.80 when you consider the cost of living in London. Next time you are in one of the national merchants, ask the branch manager to consider lobbying his head office to sign up to this worthwhile scheme. The poor sod driving a forklift in the warehouse, or the van driver dropping your gear off, or the youngster doing the filing in the office might just thank you for it.

Cheers

Ray

 

[Chalked]

Good on you for joining . A happy workforce is a profitable one.

 

[morganb]

Great to hear for everyone involved, I have nothing but praise for the company.

 

[Atouchofgas]

Great to hear that ray, maybe some of the bigger merchants will follow suit

 

[Leo21]

You must be gutted Ray, the heated pool will have to wait a little longer.

 

[Alex Knight]

Good work, minimum wage is a **** take tbh

 

[Leo21]

On a serious note, fair play to you and your company. Everyone deserves a decent wage if they work.

 

[kay-jay]

Nice one ramon.
As long as the prices dont increase to fund your increased payroll......[emoji41]

 

[Ray Stafford]

Nice one ramon.
As long as the prices dont increase to fund your increased payroll......[emoji41]

Shouldn't need to Kev. More than 90% of our staff earned over the living wage anyway.

To be honest, if finding another few pence an hour for the lowest paid 10% is going to break the bank, then there is something wrong with your business model.

And the advantage of being independent is that we don't have to squeeze the last penny out of the business to satisfy city investors.

 

[TBServices]

Good on you Ray and all the folks at Williams. Top stuff.

 

[zzzjim]

Well done Ray

( though I'm suprised London didn't need more - Felt like prices 2X )

 

[Ray Stafford]

though I'm suprised London didn't need more - Felt like prices 2X

The London figure calculation is explained here

There is a degree of arbitrariness about the London figure - clearly there is a difference in living costs between Kensington and some of the more down-market boroughs. And there are some very expensive areas just outside the London boundary.

I guess there has to be a line drawn somewhere.

 

[solutions]

If there were not a mountain of other quality reasons to be using Williams and co there is now a solid moral one too. I shall take pride in continuing to trade with Williams knowing that appreciation is being paid to those who pack and ship and serve. The living wage is a good decision well made.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

really good to hear Ray,some cracking people working for you,in fact don't think anyone has ever been unhelpful

 

[Leo21]

really good to hear Ray,some cracking people working for you,in fact don't think anyone has ever been unhelpful

Obviously Rays never answered the phone to you then.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Obviously Rays never answered the phone to you then.

your wrong again costic peg

 

[lame plumber]

next get zero hour contracts banned, they are so evil in my mind, no one knows what they can expect to earn one week to the next!

 

[zeebeedee]

Trade only plumbing and heating merchant, Williams & Co, has announced the implementation of the Living Wage for all its workforce.

From 1[SUP]st[/SUP] October, the company, which has 28 branches in the South East, guarantees that all employees and on-site contracted staff will be paid at least the poverty-busting standard.

The Living Wage is a voluntary code for employers, run by the Living Wage Foundation. It is currently set at £8.80 per hour in London, and £7.65 per hour elsewhere in the country. It is founded on the principle that work should be the most effective route out of poverty.

Managing Director, Ray Stafford said:

“Our staff add an enormous amount of value, and it is only right that this should be recognised. Introducing the living wage is a key part of our long term strategy of being the premium employer in our sector.
For too long, certain job functions in this industry have been dogged by low pay and low expectations. I would challenge all our competitors to look at their pay policies, particularly for entry level staff, and ask themselves if they would want their children to come into our industry? We think we are the first merchant to sign up for the Living Wage, but I hope we won’t be the last”

London Mayor, Boris Johnson commented on the Living Wage:

“By building motivated, dedicated workforces, the living wage helps businesses to boost the bottom line and ensures that hard-working people who contribute to success can enjoy a decent standard of living”.

“Living Wage Week” from 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] – 8[SUP]th[/SUP] November will feature a range of initiatives aimed at celebrating companies already participating in the Living Wage programme, and encouraging others to join.

<press release ends>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Its not a lot of money is it, £7.65 per hour? Or even £8.80 when you consider the cost of living in London. Next time you are in one of the national merchants, ask the branch manager to consider lobbying his head office to sign up to this worthwhile scheme. The poor sod driving a forklift in the warehouse, or the van driver dropping your gear off, or the youngster doing the filing in the office might just thank you for it.

Cheers

Ray

Ray you are a true gent mate! I can't begin to say how much of a chap this makes you in my eyes. I will constantly point people towards your buisness in the future as a result.

 

[zeebeedee]

next get zero hour contracts banned, they are so evil in my mind, no one knows what they can expect to earn one week to the next!

They are an utter disgrace

 

[Leo21]

your wrong again costic peg

Costic peg? Enlighten me.

 

[zzzjim]

Costic peg? Enlighten me.

Sounds like word play on Mystic Meg ,

( Picture of Mr Misery - corrosive )

 

[Leo21]

Sounds like word play on Mystic Meg ,

( Picture of Mr Misery - corrosive )

Mr Misery, corrosive, how very dare he.. Mystic Meg on the otter hand, mmmmm maybe.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Mr Misery, corrosive, how very dare he.. Mystic Meg on the otter hand, mmmmm maybe.

crystal balls broke Leo

 

[Leo21]

crystal balls broke Leo

You leave my balls out of this!

 

[Dotty]

You leave my balls out of this!

After all, you clearly have........

<<snigger>>

 

[Leo21]

After all, you clearly have........

<<snigger>>

When I think of a witty retort you'll be sorry.

 

[turnpin]

Ray gets my vote ...move over Boris (bet Williams won't let him go) .....Ray for Mayor .....regards Turnpin😛unk:

 

[Ray Stafford]

next get zero hour contracts banned, they are so evil in my mind, no one knows what they can expect to earn one week to the next!

There's nothing wrong with zero-hours contracts in their own right. There are some circumstances where they are entirely appropriate - if someone wanted to retain me on a zero-hours contract, I could decide whether it was right for me or not. The problems come when they are used in an exploitative and abusive way, where there is an inequality between the contracting parties.

The best way to solve that is NOT by well meaning but restrictive legislation. Its by having a strong and robust economy with 97% or 98%* employment, so employees can negotiate with employers from a position of equal strength, and where employers can afford to pay decent rates because of the growing sales that a healthy economy with close-to-fully* employed consumers will bring.


*100% or full employment is actually a bad idea. Just think of the least employable person you know (and we all know at least one) and ask yourself why any employer should employ that person, and whether you would want to pay for or rely on the goods and services that they produced.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Ray for Mayor

Why on earth would I want to do a cr@p job like that for?

I would much rather sell toilets, thanks anyway.

 

[zeebeedee]

There's nothing wrong with zero-hours contracts in their own right. There are some circumstances where they are entirely appropriate - if someone wanted to retain me on a zero-hours contract, I could decide whether it was right for me or not. The problems come when they are used in an exploitative and abusive way, where there is an inequality between the contracting parties.

The best way to solve that is NOT by well meaning but restrictive legislation. Its by having a strong and robust economy with 97% or 98%* employment, so employees can negotiate with employers from a position of equal strength, and where employers can afford to pay decent rates because of the growing sales that a healthy economy with close-to-fully* employed consumers will bring.


*100% or full employment is actually a bad idea. Just think of the least employable person you know (and we all know at least one) and ask yourself why any employer should employ that person, and whether you would want to pay for or rely on the goods and services that they produced.

Only one! Ive come across hundreds ;-)