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Vegan fast food outlet Temple of Seitan has been certified as an accredited ‘Living Wage Employer’ for paying all staff members a minimum hourly wage of £10.20.
The fried ‘chicken’ shop in Hackney’s Morning Lane, has won plaudits from the Living Wage Foundation – meaning all workers including third-party contract staff receive the Foundation-backed hourly rate.
Calculated based on the cost of living, the Foundation’s Living Wage is nearly three pounds higher than the legal minimum wage of £7.50 for over-25s.
‘Important’
Temple of Seitan is the brainchild of Melbourne couple Rebecca McGuinness and Patrick O’Shea, who set up their operation in 2015.
McGuinness said: “Our staff are by far the most important element of our business and we believe that should be reflected in their salary.
“Both Pat and I have both previously worked hospitality jobs prior to starting our own business, so we really wanted to make sure that we treat our staff in the way we would’ve liked to have been treated, and the Living Wage is one element of that.
She added: “We are proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer, particularly as there are so few in the hospitality sector. We hope this can be an example to other businesses.”
Living Wage movement
Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said: “We welcome Temple of Seitan to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer.
“Responsible businesses across the UK are voluntarily signing up to pay the real Living Wage now. The real Living Wage rate is annually calculated to reflect the real costs of living.”
Chapman added: “These businesses recognize that the Living Wage accreditation is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like Temple of Seitan, join us because they too believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”
Currently in the UK, more than 3,800 employers go beyond legal duties and pay the foundation’s Living Wage.
