Real Living Wage

5 April 2023

At the NCA we recognise that an employee’s wage needs to meet the real cost of living. A fair and liveable wage gives employees a chance to lead a dignified life, with access to the opportunities and choices needed to fully participate in society. That’s why from today, we’re committing to paying our colleagues a wage equivalent to the hourly rate set by the Real Living Wage Foundation.

The voluntary Real Living Wage is an hourly rate calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK. It’s higher than the Government’s compulsory National Living Wage, which is based on a percentage of medium earnings. The real Living Wage is set independently by the Living Wage Foundation, and around 9,000 employers in the UK have voluntarily signed up as accredited Living Wage employers with it is believed many more also paying the living wage even though not accredited.

The NCA commits to pay all substantive and bank staff a wage equivalent to the hourly rate set by the Real Living Wage Foundation for as long as it remains affordable. The rate will not be applicable to third-party contracts.

The minimum rate (£10.90) will come into effect from 1 April 2023, recognising that the recently negotiated pay deal between trade unions and the government will take Agenda for Change pay rates to above this level from April if accepted by members.

If in any subsequent year, and following review, it is deemed unaffordable to match the Real Living Wage hourly rate, the Trust will revert to paying all staff in line with NHS Terms and Conditions ensuring all staff receive pay in line with their band and number of years’ service.

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