Anchor Removals – Local Living Wage Employer
Chris Smallwood, Managing Director of Worsley-based Anchor Removals is proud to be the only real Living Wage, no zero hours removals company in the UK – and says customers value that too.
“Our industry is highly competitive and rife with poor pay and conditions. Working hours vary seasonally so we couldn’t pay the real Living Wage as a standard hourly year-round rate with overtime without a zero hours agreement at quiet times.
“I wasn’t prepared to do that so we discussed options with staff. We agreed to pay them a salary based on an average 40 hour week no matter what hours they work. It costs us less than £10,000 a year more – a small percentage of turnover.
“Since then sickness, training costs and customer complaints have all fallen and customers tell us they choose us because of the real Living Wage. My mission now is to convince my industry and other Salford companies that paying the real Living Wage aids productivity, retention and recruitment.”