Mental health charity Elmore commits to new annual level of Oxford Living Wage

Mental health charity Elmore has committed to the new annual level of the Oxford Living Wage.

The Oxford Living Wage is an hourly minimum pay that promotes liveable earnings for all workers in the city. For 2022-23 the rate is £10.50 an hour, and as an accredited employer Elmore will ensure that no employee receives less than the Oxford Living Wage.

The Oxford Living Wage, which is administered by Oxford City Council, is set at 95% of the London Living Wage and aims to recognise the high cost of living in the city compared to the rest of the UK. Oxford is regularly named as the least affordable place to live in the country.

The number of organisations accredited as part of the City Council’s Oxford Living Wage employer recognition scheme has risen from 20 to 55 since September to November 2021.

The Oxford Living Wage is a self-certification scheme. To be accredited employers must confirm in writing that all directly employed staff will receive at least the Oxford Living Wage rate.

This week is Living Wage Week (15th—21st November 2021), the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement. Elmore is also an accredited Living Wage employer.

Tom Hayes, Chief Executive of Elmore Community Services, said: “Elmore has been an Oxford Living Wage employer for more than two years because we want to do the right thing by our skilled and committed workforce. We want other employers who already pay the rate, set at £10.50 per hour, to get accredited so that they can get wider recognition. We also want other employers to raise their pay to become Oxford Living Wage employers and seek accreditation, too. Together we can create a Living Wage Oxford.”