Cost of Living Copy

The problem

Although Plymouth’s population is relatively young, with high numbers of part time workers and relatively high economic activity, the flexibility that these things should bring in times of economic downturn are constrained. The characteristics described in the Background section above mean that Plymouth has high proportions of working age people with health conditions (principally mental health and Musculo-skeletal challenges) and high proportions of people (predominantly women) looking after the family home or working part time. 

How will this impact employers and employees?

The current circumstances present challenges and opportunities as people respond to the cost-of-living challenges:

Where to start

Target audiences for inclusivity interventions by Plymouth City Council and support agencies are as follows:

• People with caring responsibilities

• People with health challenges

• Women – especially those in part-time, low-paid jobs

• Our most disadvantaged wards – St Peter and the Waterfront, Lipson, Efford and Honicknowle. 

These are the groups for whom work opportunities in Plymouth are more restricted by their circumstances.

Effective actions for employers

Review your employees, their job roles, and their salaries. Look at employees that may have more challenges and see if there are any ways you could help e.g., additional hours, flexible working, support if they need to take additional work.

Check if your employees know about in-work benefits provided by the Department of Work and Pensions or support with childcare.

Offer tea, coffee, sometimes the smallest gestures can improve employees’ wellbeing. Everyone loves a hot drink on a cold day, one employer has offered use of a microwave, a toaster, bread, and butter to ensure their team can at least have hot toast before going on-site.

Larger companies may be able to offer voucher schemes, childcare support, or sanitary products for their female employees.

People may be grateful of access to a warm office if they are cold at home. 

Be aware of charities and community groups that can help e.g., Citizens Advice Bureau, Step Change, Entitled To and Turn to us all can give help on debt, money, or benefit advice. (See links below)

How to achieve changes

We will need innovative, cross sector approaches by businesses, experts and policy makers who are committed to finding new, better ways of supporting the residents and workforce of Plymouth.

Speak to your employees, see if they need help and think about what you can afford to do.

Engage with other community groups and Plymouth City Council to see what else is on offer.

Useful information

Current wages benchmarks

• Median wages are £15.65 per hour Nationally and £13.09 in Plymouth (FT)

• The National Living Wage is £9.50 per hour and due to rise to £10.32 in 2023

• The Real Living Wage is £10.90 per hour – equivalent to £19k per year

Citizens Advice National Data Dashboard https://public.flourish.studio/story/1634399/ 

Cost calculators are provided by MoneySavingsExpert. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip/   

Real Living Wage Foundation employer case studies about responses to cost of living rises  https://www.livingwage.org.uk/news/living-wage-employers-lead-way-initiatives-support-staff-cost-living 

Low Pay commission report about non-wage benefits https://minimumwage.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/03/is-it-just-wages-that-matter/

Other sources of help

We have a unique position in Plymouth with the Plymouth Charter and its 250+ signatories who are “committed to a fairer, greener future for Plymouth”. Engagement with them to date demonstrates their proactive approaches to being supportive employers. The Plymouth Charter