Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Sharing the benefits of being a Living Wage employer
The increased costs of paying higher wages are a concern to many businesses, so London Living Wage employer CAM Specialist Support - a commercial high-level cleaning and building maintenance business - was happy to share its experiences of the benefits with a group of local businesses recently.
Speaking at an event organised by Lewisham Council, Sean Canty, director at CAM, outlined what the Living Wage means to the business and admitted: "We understand why companies might be reluctant to join the London Living Wage scheme, but any uncertainty is behind us now. We have always looked to pay our staff well and paid the London Living Wage rate for a couple of years before becoming officially accredited."
Since receiving the official accreditation, CAM has seen a better quality of applicants for vacant posts within the company and staff retention and engagement has improved. It has also led to a reduction in absenteeism.
"We've found that there is greater awareness of CAM from both existing and potential customers - some of which insist their contractors are accredited - and that we can add value to their businesses now we have the accreditation. This has all helped to grow our business," said Sean.
Fellow director Matt Johnson added: "Paying the London Living Wage has enhanced the way we view ourselves as a company, and the way we are viewed by existing and potential customers. Our initial fear that we would need to reduce our staff levels to cope with the costs has proved unfounded thanks to the extra business we've been able to secure."
The event was hosted by the Mayor of Lewisham and also featured a presentation from Katherine Chapman of the Living Wage Foundation and the announcement of a business rate rebate scheme for Living Wage employers in the London Borough of Lewisham to help them with accreditation costs.
24th March 2016