The award-winning firm has committed to paying its 330+ staff in line with rates set by the Living Wage Foundation, the only UK wage rate that is voluntarily paid and based on meeting UK living costs.
The cleaning industry is renowned for its poor working practices, but Mrs Buckét recognises that the success of the business is built through its people, and so focuses on treating them with the respect and renumeration that they deserve.
The company recently appointed a new Head of People and part of their remit is to lead an integrated people service that delivers business goals through engaging, people focused activity. They will also be responsible for creating a new overarching People Strategy for the organisation. This will include talent management and shaping the employee experience, with paying a Real Living Wage becoming a large part of this.
Rachael Flanagan, CEO of Mrs Buckét, said:
“The success of our company is built on the hard work of our dedicated team, which is why we feel so strongly that in return we should offer them stability and competitive pay. It is certainly the right thing to do, and we’re proud of our commitment to go beyond the government minimum and pay our people a Real Living Wage.
“While we recognise the importance of this step, it will have an impact on our business as a whole, and with costs increasing across the board, it is likely that our prices will have to increase accordingly.
“However, there is a long held public perception that cleaning is a low paid job and we are keen to move away from this image. Throughout the pandemic, cleaners worked round the clock, despite not being given key worker status in line with other professions, and we believe that they should be recognised for their hard work.
“Becoming a Living Wage Employer and joining the impressive list of other business to receive this accreditation is a really proud moment for us and one that will hopefully cement our place as the employer of choice in the cleaning and facilities management industry.”
Roberta (Bobbie) Roberts said:
“The cleaning industry is often seen as low-paid and low-skilled, but we work really hard and deserve to be paid fairly so it’s fantastic to work for an organisation that values its workers.
“The extra income I get from being paid a Real Living Wage makes such a difference to me and my family, especially in these tough times. I just wish more businesses would recognise the importance of paying their employees fairly, and not just the minimum, by becoming a Living Wage Employer like Mrs Buckét.”
