Commitment to paying a real living wage celebrated by Thursfields

Thursfields Solicitors has started 2021 positively by winning accreditation as a living wage employer.

The commitment will mean that everyone working directly or indirectly for the leading Midlands law firm will receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.30.

This hourly rate is significantly higher than the government minimum for over 25s, which currently stands at £8.72 per hour.

Jade Linton, HR business partner and associate director in the Employment department at Thursfields, said: “We are proud to have been accredited as a living wage employer.

“The West Midlands region has one of the highest proportions of non-living wage jobs in the country, with around 21% or 442,000 of jobs paying less than the real living wage.

“Despite this, Thursfields has committed to pay the real living wage and deliver a fair pay for our hard-working colleagues and partners.”

The real living wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum.

Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 230,000 people and put over £1 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.

Katherine Chapman, director of Living Wage Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that Thursfields has joined the movement of over 6,000 responsible employers across the UK.

“These living wage employers voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.

“Thursfields has joined thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Chelsea and Everton Football Clubs, Lush, and many more.”

She added: “These businesses all recognise that paying the real living wage is the mark of a responsible employer.”