Great Britain: after the Living Wage, companies now committing to ‘Living Hours’

In the midst of the pandemic, British insurer Aviva, alongside Scottish insurance company Standard Life Aberdeen, have become the first groups to implement the ‘Living Hours’ model as advocated by the Living Wage Foundation. This means that, unless workers specifically request otherwise, Aviva will guarantee at least 16 hours of work per week. In addition, work schedules will have to be announced at least 4 weeks in advance and workers will be guaranteed payment if there are any cancellations within the 4-week notice period. “It’s time to put an end to insecure working contracts with unpredictable hours. Now more than ever, with so many facing uncertainty, being unable to rely on a steady income – even in the short term – is adding to the stress people are experiencing,” said Danielle Harmer, Aviva’s chief People Officer. According to the Living Wage Foundation, 84% of Britons believe that companies should offer more guarantees, while the coronavirus is disrupting a significantly precarious labor market marked by the existence of zero-hour contracts, which guarantee neither working times nor salary levels. Aviva has been paying the Living Wage since 2014. The Living Wage Foundation created the UK Living Wage was created almost a decade ago (c.f. article No. 10434). Its value is higher than the legal minimum wage and currently stands at £9.30 (€10.33).