My Green Pod Hero Fill Refill has been recognised for its exceptional leadership in advancing the real Living Wage within the retail sector.
The independent, family-run business in Northamptonshire specialises in closed-loop and circular, returnable, eco-responsible laundry, household cleaning and personal care products.
The company’s original goal was to create products that are eco responsible, while at the same time finding ways to eliminate plastic waste.
Today Fill Refill is a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of its turnover to environmental causes. It’s also a certified B corporation, meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability, and is extremely proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer.
This means that every member of the Fill Refill team earns a real Living Wage. Importantly, the hourly rate of pay is independently calculated, and it’s based on the actual cost of living.
‘This means a whole lot to us. Committing to the real Living Wage in 2020, right in the middle of so much uncertainty for so many of us, is one of the changes we made that I am most proud of.
‘We like to say that nothing changes if nothing changes. We think it’s vital that we pay every person in our team the real Living Wage for what they do and we’d like to encourage more folks to do the same because we know it’s the right thing to do.
‘We’re grateful to The Living Wage Foundation for the recognition and for everything they are doing to make for a fairer workplace for everyone!’
PHILLIP KALLI
Managing director, Fill Refill
The real Living Wage is not the same as the UK government’s national living wage; it’s an hourly rate of pay set independently and updated annually. It is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK, and employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis.
The UK Living Wage is currently £10.90 per hour. There is a separate London Living Wage rate of £11.95 per hour to reflect the higher cost of living in the capital.
These figures are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in London and the UK.
The Living Wage Foundation is the organisation at the heart of the movement of businesses, organisations and individuals who campaign for the simple idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.
In July 2015 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK government would introduce a compulsory ‘national living wage’. It was introduced in April 2016, originally applying to all workers over the age of 25.
The national living wage is currently £10.42 an hour and applies for workers over the age of 23. The government rate is based on median earnings while the Living Wage Foundation rates are calculated according to the cost of living in London and the UK.
‘Given the challenges of the past three years, the record increase in Living Wage Employers is truly remarkable. The Living Wage movement has never been stronger, and in the current cost of living crisis, it has never mattered more. Nearly 13,000 Living Wage Employers have recognised this and signed up to ensure that everyone who works for them, including third party contractors like cleaners and security guards, earns a wage that meets everyday needs.
‘Tonight, we are celebrating the outstanding leadership these employers have shown in providing stability and security in their industries, communities, and wider society. They are leading the way in building a better and more equal world, and I warmly congratulate Fill Refill on their well-deserved award.’
KATHERINE CHAPMAN
Director, Living Wage Foundation
The annual Living Wage Champion Awards celebrate individuals and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the Living Wage movement.
This year they were held in Manchester for the first time ever in recognition of the strength and growth of the movement in the region.
The man who swapped rock ’n’ roll for rinse ’n’ return is making bottles simply too cool to throw away.
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