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The Scarlet and the Bedruthan Hotel and Spa have announced they have become a Real Living Wage Employer from 1 June 2021.
The Cornish hotels said it has been a three-year journey to secure the status, which reportedly makes them the first hotel group to pledge their commitment to offering the Real Living Wage to employees.
The Real Living Wage is an independently-calculated rate that ensures workers can meet the cost of living and earn enough to support themselves and their families. Employees working at the Scarlet and Bedruthan will now receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.50 regardless of their age.
This rate is “significantly higher” than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £8.91 per hour, and this change is set to positively affect over 100 of the hourly paid teams, with further salary reviews in September for the remaining team.
The hotels said they feel “now more than ever that this positive investment will encourage others to consider and follow their lead”.
Owner of the Scarlet and Bedruthan, Emma Stratton said: “Employee hardship is not seasonal, the impact is longer term and we believe paying well should be the foundation of our business not a short-term fix to the current challenges faced in recruitment by the hospitality industry. Seasonal bonuses or temporarily inflated rates of pay do not provide any longevity of financial and job security.
“It is as much about our people as it is our focus on sustainability. We want our guests to make a conscious choice about where they stay and actively support brands on a local and national level that demonstrate their ethical practices. We firmly believe that our guests are ‘Conscious Consumers’ and this will resonate with them.”
She added: “We want to be transparent, ethical, and diligent about the care of our employees. Investing in talented, skilled people who bring their passion and motivation to work just makes sense. We see this as a hugely important investment in ensuring the stability of our business and recognising the importance of our team, which is our most valuable asset.
“It’s something that should be high on every business agenda regardless of sector and we hope we can demonstrate that it is possible to deliver even in the most challenging of circumstances. This is after the start of a long-term investment.”
