As always, these are ideas for steps your business could take to create a greater social impact. Many of them are low-cost or even free. If you have other ideas we could add, please contact us.
| What could you do? | Why and how? |
|---|---|
| Commit to paying Living Wage to all employees and use subcontractors (e.g. cleaners) who do the same |
There’s a charge but your business is listed on their directory of Living Wage employers and you get a logo you can use in your publicity. Macc is a Living Wage Employer. They recently reached 1500 employers registered: we’d love to see Greater Manchester take them past the 2000 mark. (Just 64 are currently registered in GM – we can do better!) You could also support the GM Living Wage Campaign @GMLivingWage |
| Publish your pay multiple |  With a lot of press coverage about ‘fat cat’ salaries damaging the reputation of businesses, you could take a look at how well pay is shared across your organisation. Publishing it online is a great way to show commitment to fair pay policies. You can publish your business’ pay multiple for free on Pay Compare www.paycompare.org.uk. When you register, you get a logo you can use in publicity. (Macc’s Pay Multiple is published on here) |
| Choose not to use unfair zero-hours contracts | A lot has been written about this. Here’s one example of why this is important: www.neweconomics.org/blog/entry/zero-hours-contracts-when-work-doesnt-pay And some guidance on how to implement it: www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/guides/zero-hours-contracts-understanding-law.aspx |
| Offer work experience opportunities | There are many schemes which support work experience placements - mostly, but not exclusively, aimed at young people. |
| Offer apprenticeships | Become an apprentice guide from Gov.uk www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide Macc believes apprenticeships should be paid at Living Wage rates |
| Choose to pay interns |  Here’s why this is important: www.internaware.org/unpaid_internships_are_illegal Macc believes interns should be paid at Living Wage rates |
| Support a positive approach to mental health in the workplace |  Lots of information about why this is important and plenty of resources on how to go about this at: www.mindfulemployer.net/ Macc is a Mindful Employer |
| Promote good health in the workplace |  The Good Work Good Health Charter is a framework you can use to help do this http://neweconomymanchester.com/stories/1822-good_work_good_health_charter - it’s possibly a little heavy for small businesses. There are plenty of simple things you can do like flagging up things like the Manchester Health and Wellbeing Service website http://goodhealth-manchester.nhs.uk/public.html and, of course, you can devise your own programme, for example: |
| Encourage learning and development at work |  This is a very simple approach which can suit any size of organisation. In a nutshell, a member of staff takes a lead on sharing ideas for learning and skills development in an *informal* way www.workplacelearningadvocates.org.uk It’s a great low-cost way of encouraging people to learn and develop and for an employer to show commitment to nurturing the skills and talents of your staff. |
| Create an inclusive workplace | Equalities legislation is often thought of in terms of recruitment and delivery of services, but how do you create an inclusive culture at work? Here’s some useful guidance: www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/human-rights-practical-guidance/area-employment-services/creating-an-inclusive-workplace If there are particular communities (ethnic communities or groups of people such as people with disabilities, LGBT people, etc.) you want to reach out to or understand better, there are local charities who work with those communities – we can help put you in touch with them. Contact us if you need support with this. |
Register with the Living Wage Foundation:
Other resources
- Useful insights in this report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation about ways employers could improve the working lives of people on low pay www.jrf.org.uk/publications/what-do-low-paid-workers-think-would-improve-their-working-lives