Most people would assume that a successful global law firm would pay a Living Wage to its people and at Linklaters we do. But some would perhaps also assume that being part of the Living Wage movement was unnecessary and yet we are. More than that, we have been active supporters of the Living Wage Foundation for over a decade and I currently chair the Foundation’s Advisory Group. Why this commitment?
The answer to that is twofold. As a business we have seen how it makes good sense. The first three people you meet on entering our London HQ – security, front of house and catering – may well all benefit from the Living Wage and, thanks to the Living Wage, many of them have been with us for many years. It brings familiarity, flexibility and loyalty, all qualities valued by our people and our guests. We can say with confidence that our success is shared by all of those who work in our building, whatever they do and whether or not they are directly employed. We are proud of our commitment.
Looking beyond the firm, we can see how our engagement strengthens the movement. The campaign for a Living Wage began with those who could best afford to pay it; businesses like ours in the City and Canary Wharf. Though many other sectors employ many more people at lower wages, developing a core membership of profitable corporates not only benefitted some of their own people (and also those working onsite through their suppliers) but created the ripple which became a wave. In those early years, corporate funding built the movement and corporate influence the growth. Simply, without bigger beasts at the start, we would not have the broad swathe of society now standing behind the badge.
Linklaters was one of those early adopters and since then we have worked hard to promote the Living Wage in the City, in our sector and around the world. We are proud that in the UK we are now part of a movement of 16,000 employers, each of whom shares a common belief in paying people well, recognising that in-work poverty simply should not exist. Importantly, it is not a political initiative, simply one grounded in fairness and a recognition that a fair day’s work deserves a fair pay’s pay.
This Living Wage Week, I would encourage any employer not yet accredited to think about the benefits of joining us all. Even if you already pay all of your people above the Living Wage, adding your voice makes paying a Living Wage harder to ignore. It also ensures that your organisation is seen by customers, clients and your own people as an advocate for treating people well. As a city that trades on centuries of trust, integrity and fairness, what better way to celebrate business as a force for good?