Nikon commits to paying living wage

Jill McLellan, managing director of Nikon Optical UK

Nikon Lenswear UK has achieved accreditation as a Living Wage Employer, from 1 March 2023.

The real living wage accreditation is a voluntary commitment by the company to pay a wage that meets the everyday costs of living, instead of the statutory minimum wage – or national living wage – set out by the government.

Jill McLellan, managing director of Nikon Optical UK, said: “The optical world is rich with qualified professionals and skilled talents who I believe should be retained and motivated through being fairly rewarded for their commitment to the industry. That’s why our commitment is to every employee at Nikon Lenswear UK, in our offices and in our manufacturing facility, for full-time, part-time and third-party contracted staff.”

The real living wage is higher than the government’s minimum, and is an independently calculated hourly rate of pay that is based on the actual cost of living. It takes into account the real costs of items such as a weekly food shop, or a surprise trip to the dentist.

For 2023, the real living wage is currently £10.90 per an hour in the UK, with a higher rate of £11.95 for London to reflect the higher costs of living in the capital.