Championing Fair Wages: Our Commitment as a Living Wage and B Corporation Certified Employer

It’s Living Wage Week and we at Charlotte Sweeney Associates (CSA) are excited to reaffirm our commitment as both a B Corporation Certified and Living Wage Accredited employer, recognised by the Living Wage Foundation.

This dual accreditation speaks to our commitment to a better workplace and a fairer economy, both for our team and the broader community. By going beyond the government-set minimum wage and offering a true Living Wage, we ensure that our team can meet their everyday needs and enjoy a decent standard of living.

Why a Real Living Wage Matters

The real Living Wage, unlike the government’s National Living Wage, is the only rate calculated independently based on the actual cost of living. This means it is grounded in what individuals and families genuinely need to cover essentials, like housing, food, and transport*. Over 15,000 UK businesses voluntarily pay this rate because they recognise that fair pay is essential for employees’ financial stability and overall well-being.

At CSA, we’re proud to join this community, knowing that paying a real Living Wage isn’t just good for employees—it’s beneficial for business, too.

Living Wage and Organisational Benefits

Research from the Living Wage Foundation shows that paying a real Living Wage has powerful benefits for employers. 63% of Living Wage employers report an improvement in recruitment, which helps them attract the best talent. A fair wage also boosts employee morale, productivity and contributes to a positive company culture¹. Moreover, businesses that pay a fair wage see improved retention rates, which means less turnover and more engaged, long-term employees.²

Living Wage Accreditation and B Corporation Certification: A Combined Commitment

Being both Living Wage Accredited and B Corporation Certified means Charlotte Sweeney Associates prioritises fairness, transparency, and accountability. B Corporation Certification is a rigorous process that evaluates a company’s impact on its workers, customers, community, and the environment. For us, achieving this certification was a natural progression, aligning with our mission of ‘championing the professionalisation of our sector’.

As part of our certification, fair wages are an important "impact area," meaning they’re essential to the B Corporation Impact Assessment. However, a fair wage is not just a tick in a box for compliance; it’s a vital element that contributes to economic equity and helps break cycles of intergenerational poverty³. In fact, the most recent draft of B Corporation standards emphasises that companies must provide a workplace where employees experience positive culture, open dialogue, fair wages, and equitable wage structures.

The Global Need for Fair Wages

Unfortunately, government-set minimum wages in many places worldwide don’t provide a decent standard of living. This gap often leaves historically marginalised groups in cycles of poverty, even with steady work.

By offering a fair wage, Charlotte Sweeney Associates and other responsible employers are stepping up to fill this gap, demonstrating the benefits of becoming a Living Wage employer and the positive impact it has.

To support employers globally, the Living Wage Foundation has launched a Global Living Wage Affiliate Network, including partners such as Living Wage for US and the Living Wage Movement Aotearoa New Zealand. This network offers multi-country accreditation, addressing challenges faced by multinational companies seeking consistency in Living Wage standards across their operations. Many multinational employers have expressed challenges in finding partners that offer a credible approach to meeting Living Wage commitments globally, with some holding back on accrediting their UK-based organisations until they can implement a consistent standard across all countries in which they operate.

The Global Living Wage Network ensures shared values and credible Living Wage rates across regions, allowing companies to adopt a truly global commitment to fair pay. By balancing global standards with local needs, this encourages more companies to embrace a Living Wage for all directly employed and contracted staff.

Join Us in Leading the Way for Responsible Employment

As we celebrate Living Wage Week, we invite other businesses to consider joining this movement. Paying a real Living Wage is a commitment to people, communities, and a better economy for all.

If you’re interested in learning more about Living Wage Week or becoming Living Wage Accredited, visit the Living Wage Foundation.

And if you’d like to know more about our experience of becoming B Corporation Certified, and how we could support you, reach out to us today. It's never too early to consider the requirements for B Corporation: Contact Us.

*Based off a UK public consultation method, A Minimum Income Standard (MIS). Read more about the 2024 MIS report findings here.

¹ Carter, S.S. (2019). Author Post: The Impact of Wages on Employee Productivity. [online] Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbooksauthors/2019/09/12/the-impact-of-wages-on-employee-productivity/.

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² Living Wage Foundation (2017). The Living Wage is Good for Business | Living Wage Foundation. [online] Livingwage.org.uk. Available at: https://www.livingwage.org.uk/good-for-business.

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³ Bcorporation.net. (2024). The latest draft standards for B Corp Certification. [online] Available at: https://standards.bcorporation.net/en-us/draft/topic/fair-wages.

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