Response to John Park MSP Member for Mid Scotland and Fife Region Consultation on the Living Wage

(Scotland) Bill
Jacquie Forde Director The Wellbeing Alliance

The Wellbeing Alliance Ltd,11-12 Newton Terrace ,Charing Cross, Glasgow G3 7PJ Company Registered in Scotland : SC435567

Who are we? We are a team of social entrepreneurs who live in Scotland and work throughout the UK. Our backgrounds in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health inspired us to bring together our skills to build a not for profit company that works for the benefit of society to improve health and wellbeing. We work with an external team of advisors who we call our mastermind group from an incredible range of backgrounds to advise us and offer a kind word or a tough steer in the right direction for the projects and programmes that we undertake. Our aim is to play a key role in contributing towards an improved level of health and wellbeing for Scotland and the UK population. We will achieve this through delivering a range of projects and campaigns with our partners. We also aim to help improve the healthy life expectancy of our citizens, which could make a significant contribution to the national economy.

The Wellbeing Alliance Ltd,11-12 Newton Terrace ,Charing Cross, Glasgow G3 7PJ Company Registered in Scotland : SC435567

QUESTION 1: Do you support the general aims of the proposed Bill? (as outlined in paragraphs 32 to 39 above). Please indicate yes/no/undecided and explain the reasons for your response. Yes The Wellbeing Alliance is fully supportive of the proposed Bill and is keen to see the Living Wage implemented as soon as possible. It is quite obvious from the evidence quoted in the consultation document that many bodies recognise the importance of ensuring staff are paid a living wage. The Wellbeing Alliance was particularly convinced by the evidence from KPMG used in Annex C. The Wellbeing Alliance recognises the importance for people in having good morale to improve health and happiness key indicators of wellbeing. Employers should also recognise the benefits in the case study of improved productivity, flexibility and lower staff turnover which are a panacea for all companies HR departments. QUESTION 2: Do you envisage any issues for public sector bodies when including the Living Wage as a contract performance condition of a contract? Please explain the reasons for your answer. The Wellbeing Alliance is unable to comment on whether it envisages any issues with the implementation of a Living Wage as a contract performance condition. It would seem from the consultation document sound legal advice and opinion needs to be sought when the Bill is drafted to ensure it is implementable. QUESTION 3: What do you consider will be the advantages or disadvantages for employers and employees if public sector performance clauses stipulate the payment of the Living Wage?
The Wellbeing Alliance Ltd,11-12 Newton Terrace ,Charing Cross, Glasgow G3 7PJ Company Registered in Scotland : SC435567

The Wellbeing Alliance has already stated it recognises the evidence from KPMG around staff turnover and absenteeism. Both of these issues cause significant pressure on companies as other staff will need to retrain new colleagues and also provide support to those that are absent. Long term staff absenteeism can cause pressure on colleagues leading to stress and unacceptable workplace pressure. If the Living Wage can tackle these issues it should promote the Wellbeing of the whole workforce. QUESTION 4: Which public sector bodies should use contract performance clauses to deliver the Living Wage? Please include the reasons for your choice. The Wellbeing Alliance notes the consultation and its proposed list of identified bodies. We believe this list is robust. QUESTION 5: Which bodies should be mandatory consultees? Please include the reasons for your choice. The Wellbeing Alliance has no view on who should be mandatory consultees. QUESTION 6: What information must be included in the Scottish Ministers report to the Scottish Parliament? Please explain the reasons for your answer. The Wellbeing Alliance recognises the consultation recommendations on the report which Scottish Ministers would need to produce. The Wellbeing Alliance recognises that a benchmark exercise may be very useful in case delivery of the target Living Wage is done as a phased approach. By benchmarking it will allow progress to achievement to be monitored and observe sectors which are failing in the trajectory of delivery. QUESTION 7: What is your assessment of the likely financial implications of the proposed Bill to you or your organisation; if possible please provide evidence to support your view? What (if any) other significant financial implications are likely to arise?
The Wellbeing Alliance Ltd,11-12 Newton Terrace ,Charing Cross, Glasgow G3 7PJ Company Registered in Scotland : SC435567

The Wellbeing Alliance is unable to comment on financial implications on our organisation.

QUESTION 8: Is the proposed Bill likely to have any substantial positive or negative implications for equality? If it is likely to have a substantial negative implication, how might this be minimised or avoided? The Wellbeing Alliance has been struck by the number of claims for equal pay which have been successful of late. The proposed Bill should minimise the risk of reoccurrence for those most likely to be suffering from the effects of low pay. QUESTION 9: Do you have any other comments on or suggestions relevant to the proposal? The Wellbeing Alliance has no other comments to make on the specific proposals except to wish the Bill every success.

The Wellbeing Alliance Ltd,11-12 Newton Terrace ,Charing Cross, Glasgow G3 7PJ Company Registered in Scotland : SC435567