Oliver Bonas is the first high street retail chain to pay their staff the Living Wage.
The company has committed to paying all employees and third party contractors £7.85 per hour and £9.15 per hour in London.
Director of the Living Wage Foundation, Rhys Moore said, “We are delighted that Oliver Bonas has accredited as a Living Wage employer. This is a significant milestone for the Living Wage movement and will see the Living Wage become more prominent on high streets across the country. Major players in the retail sector have for a long time claimed that the Living Wage is too expensive to implement on the high street. This move by Oliver Bonas demonstrates that whilst it’s not always an easy choice for business to make, it is the right choice, and we hope that both staff and customers will support the leadership they are showing in their commitment to help end the low wage culture of the British high street.”
A recent poll by Nationwide revealed that 87% of the public thought that any businesses that can, should pay the voluntary Living Wage and effectively 58% would be more likely to use the goods and services of a company that pay their employees the Living Wage.
Managing director and founder of Oliver Bonas, Oliver Tress said, “We are thrilled that we are now able to pay the Living Wage to all members of our team. We want to do everything we can to pay our team at OB a wage that reflects their hard work and loyalty - and the ‘real’ cost of living. It is exciting to be the first retailer on the High Street to make this commitment.”
