A well-known independent coffee shop in Edinburgh has become Scotland’s first hospitality employer to achieve Living Hours accreditation. Black Medicine Coffee Co., an established coffee shop, café and social space, has made a commitment to secure and predictable working hours.
Black Medicine Coffee Co. has been an accredited Living Wage employer since 2019. This announcement of their commitment to Living Hours further demonstrates the importance they place on setting standards for fair work.
The hospitality sector is the lowest paid industry in Scotland on average but this achievement by Black Medicine marks an important step forward for fair work in hospitality.
Dougal McBride, Owner of Black Medicine Coffee Co. said:
“Black Medicine is proud to be different. We go beyond industry norms, endeavouring to set higher standards. As a responsible employer, we provide good working conditions that allows staff to feel secure and valued. This accreditation signals our commitment to our people and helps address the problem of insecure work in Scotland.”
Rachel Morrison-McCormick, Projects Coordinator, Living Wage Scotland said:
“Thousands of employers across Scotland are committed to paying at least the real Living Wage, and it’s fantastic Black Medicine are going further by becoming Living Hours accredited. This builds on their long-standing commitment to fair work and demonstrates their goal to set higher standards in the hospitality industry.”
Living Hours accreditation requires employers to pay the real Living Wage to all their employees over the age of 18 and commit to providing at least four weeks’ notice for every shift, with guaranteed payment if shifts are cancelled within this notice period. Living Hours employers also provide a guaranteed minimum of 16 hours every week (unless the worker requests otherwise), and a contract that accurately reflects hours worked.
Research published by the Living Wage Foundation showed that over 9% of workers in Scotland are in insecure work and paid below the Living Wage. This is approximately 250,000 workers. The Living Hours standard was created to ensure that people have predictable working patterns and income, enabling them to better plan their lives.
