IKEA country manager UK and Ireland, Gillian Drakeford, has today, joined the Living Wage Commission.
The Living Wage Commission was set up in January 2016 to oversee the calculation of the Living Wage rates in London and the UK. It is chaired by Gavin Kelly, Chief Executive, Resolution Trust, with commissioners drawn from leading Living Wage accredited employers, trade unions, civil society and independent experts.
Gavin Kelly, Chair, Living Wage Commission said:
"We are really pleased that Gillian Drakeford is joining the Commission. Having the expertise and insight of one of the UK's leading retailers on the Commission is important and hugely beneficial. Support from business for the voluntary Living Wage is key to the continued success of the Living Wage movement."
The Living Wage Commission supports and promotes the goals of the real Living Wage as an attainable benchmark for employers committed to ensuring their employees earn a wage that meets the cost of essential goods and services.
Gillian Drakeford, IKEA Country Manager UK and Ireland, commented on her appointment to the Commission:
"We are incredibly proud of the investment we continue to make in the real Living Wage, particularly as our co-workers have told us about the positive impact it has on their lives. It also makes good business sense - we know that happy co-workers will bring happy customers. Investing in our people is crucial to motivating and retaining our co-workers, as well as attracting new talent.
"We believe in the Living Wage Foundation's approach to rate setting as an independent organisation which takes into account a variety of sources. The Living Wage aligns with our values and ethics so I am very pleased to join the diverse group of Commissioners to help oversee the calculation of the Living Wage rate and ensure the Living Wage remains representative of life in the UK today."
The Living Wage is set by a formula based on what happens to living standards from one year to the next. The Commission provides a transparent decision-making forum to resolve specific judgements about how to incorporate policy changes and new sources of data into the calculation. It also advises on how to manage extreme year-to-year variations from general rises in living costs.
Katherine Chapman, Director, the Living Wage Foundation, said:
"There are now more than 3,000 accredited Living Wage employers who recognise that paying the real Living Wage is not only the right thing to do, but also offers a range of business benefits, from boosting the reputation of an organisation to improving staff retention.
"Having a diverse and respected group of Commissioners to oversee the calculation of the independent Living Wage rates is essential; business can be reassured the methodology is sound, and importantly that low-wage workers, through the voluntary, real Living Wage will receive a pay rate that allows them to live not simply survive."