WPP PLC 
31 October, 2014
• Part of Ogilvy's commitment to attract youth talent and encourage diversity in the workforce
• First global marketing communications company to adopt this standard
• Boris Johnson to announce new London Living Wage rate for 2014/2015 on 3 Nov
LONDON - Ogilvy & Mather Group UK is the first global marketing communications company to be accredited as a Living Wage employer.
The Living Wage campaign was launched in 2001 by parents in East London who were frustrated that working two or more minimum wage jobs left no time for family life, so they set up a foundation to encourage employers to pay a 'Living Wage' to their employees, to address working poverty and strengthen families.
The Living Wage is an informal benchmark, not a legally enforceable minimum level of pay, unlike the national minimum wage, which is set by the chancellor each year on the advice of the Low Pay Commission. The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. It is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the 'Minimum Income Standard' for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.
Annette King, Chief Executive Officer, Ogilvy & Mather Group UK commented: "We did a review at the end of last year where we found that the majority of our employees are paid well above the Living Wage. However, we identified a few gaps amongst our youth talent, in particular interns and work placements, which we have now addressed.
"We are keen to encourage a broad, diverse mix of people from all walks of life, to consider working in our industry and paying a 'Living Wage' is an important step towards this goal. We are proud to be the first UK marketing communications company to gain accreditation. It is a badge we will wear with pride."
Rhys Moore, Director of the Living Wage Foundation said: "The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day's work with a fair day's pay. The best employers are voluntarily signing up now. I welcome the leadership shown by Ogilvy & Mather Group UK on this important issue."
Ogilvy & Mather Group UK will also require all suppliers to pay their staff the Living Wage when the company moves to its new home in Sea Containers, expected Autumn 2015.
The current Living Wage hourly rate is £7.65 in the UK rising to £8.80 in London. The minimum wage is much lower; £6.50 for adults aged 21 and over and £5.13 for those aged 18 to 20.
The Living Wage Foundation supports, recognises and celebrates the leadership shown by Living Wage Employers in the UK. More than 900 employers have been accredited to date lifting an estimated 45,000 people out of poverty. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Boris Johnson is set to announce the new London Living Wage rate for 2014/2015 on the 3 November.
For further information visit: livingwage.org.uk.
For further information contact:
Poppy Nagra
Group Communications
Ogilvy & Mather UK
Tel. +44 (0)7345 3314
BB. +44 (0)7956 169209
Email. poppy.nagra@ogilvy.com
An independent study of the business benefits of implementing a Living Wage policy in London found that more than 80% of employers believe that the Living Wage had enhanced the quality of the work of their staff, while absenteeism had fallen by approximately 25%. Two thirds (66%) of employers reported a significant impact on recruitment and retention within their organisation. 70% of employers felt that the Living Wage had increased consumer awareness of their organisation's commitment to be an ethical employer.
About Ogilvy & Mather
Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world. It was named the Cannes Lions Network of the Year for three consecutive years, 2012, 2013, and 2014; and the EFFIEs World's Most Effective Agency Network for two consecutive years 2012 and 2013. The company is comprised of industry leading units in the following disciplines: advertising; public relations and public affairs; branding and identity; shopper and retail marketing; health care communications; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing; consulting, research and analytics; branded content and entertainment; and specialist communications. O&M services Fortune Global 500 companies as well as local businesses through its network of more than 500 offices in 126 countries. It is a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY). For more information, visit www.ogilvy.com, or follow Ogilvy on Twitter at @Ogilvy and on Facebook.com/Ogilvy.
About the Living Wage Foundation
The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK. Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
The London Living Wage is currently £8.80 per hour. This figure is set annually by the Greater London Authority and covers all boroughs in Greater London. The UK Living Wage for outside of London is currently £7.65 per hour. This figure is set annually by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University.
The Living Wage Foundation recognises and celebrates the leadership shown by Living Wage employers across the UK. There are currently over 900 accredited employers. We are an initiative of Citizens UK. We believe that work should be the surest way out of poverty.
• Part of Ogilvy's commitment to attract youth talent and encourage diversity in the workforce
• First global marketing communications company to adopt this standard
• Boris Johnson to announce new London Living Wage rate for 2014/2015 on 3 Nov
LONDON - Ogilvy & Mather Group UK is the first global marketing communications company to be accredited as a Living Wage employer.
The Living Wage campaign was launched in 2001 by parents in East London who were frustrated that working two or more minimum wage jobs left no time for family life, so they set up a foundation to encourage employers to pay a 'Living Wage' to their employees, to address working poverty and strengthen families.
The Living Wage is an informal benchmark, not a legally enforceable minimum level of pay, unlike the national minimum wage, which is set by the chancellor each year on the advice of the Low Pay Commission. The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. It is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the 'Minimum Income Standard' for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.
Annette King, Chief Executive Officer, Ogilvy & Mather Group UK commented: "We did a review at the end of last year where we found that the majority of our employees are paid well above the Living Wage. However, we identified a few gaps amongst our youth talent, in particular interns and work placements, which we have now addressed.
"We are keen to encourage a broad, diverse mix of people from all walks of life, to consider working in our industry and paying a 'Living Wage' is an important step towards this goal. We are proud to be the first UK marketing communications company to gain accreditation. It is a badge we will wear with pride."
Rhys Moore, Director of the Living Wage Foundation said: "The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day's work with a fair day's pay. The best employers are voluntarily signing up now. I welcome the leadership shown by Ogilvy & Mather Group UK on this important issue."
Ogilvy & Mather Group UK will also require all suppliers to pay their staff the Living Wage when the company moves to its new home in Sea Containers, expected Autumn 2015.
The current Living Wage hourly rate is £7.65 in the UK rising to £8.80 in London. The minimum wage is much lower; £6.50 for adults aged 21 and over and £5.13 for those aged 18 to 20.
The Living Wage Foundation supports, recognises and celebrates the leadership shown by Living Wage Employers in the UK. More than 900 employers have been accredited to date lifting an estimated 45,000 people out of poverty. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Boris Johnson is set to announce the new London Living Wage rate for 2014/2015 on the 3 November.
For further information visit: livingwage.org.uk.
For further information contact:
Poppy Nagra
Group Communications
Ogilvy & Mather UK
Tel. +44 (0)7345 3314
BB. +44 (0)7956 169209
Email. poppy.nagra@ogilvy.com
An independent study of the business benefits of implementing a Living Wage policy in London found that more than 80% of employers believe that the Living Wage had enhanced the quality of the work of their staff, while absenteeism had fallen by approximately 25%. Two thirds (66%) of employers reported a significant impact on recruitment and retention within their organisation. 70% of employers felt that the Living Wage had increased consumer awareness of their organisation's commitment to be an ethical employer.
About Ogilvy & Mather
Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world. It was named the Cannes Lions Network of the Year for three consecutive years, 2012, 2013, and 2014; and the EFFIEs World's Most Effective Agency Network for two consecutive years 2012 and 2013. The company is comprised of industry leading units in the following disciplines: advertising; public relations and public affairs; branding and identity; shopper and retail marketing; health care communications; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing; consulting, research and analytics; branded content and entertainment; and specialist communications. O&M services Fortune Global 500 companies as well as local businesses through its network of more than 500 offices in 126 countries. It is a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY). For more information, visit www.ogilvy.com, or follow Ogilvy on Twitter at @Ogilvy and on Facebook.com/Ogilvy.
About the Living Wage Foundation
The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK. Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
The London Living Wage is currently £8.80 per hour. This figure is set annually by the Greater London Authority and covers all boroughs in Greater London. The UK Living Wage for outside of London is currently £7.65 per hour. This figure is set annually by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University.
The Living Wage Foundation recognises and celebrates the leadership shown by Living Wage employers across the UK. There are currently over 900 accredited employers. We are an initiative of Citizens UK. We believe that work should be the surest way out of poverty.
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