Staff Wellbeing a Priority for 1st Alliance Credit Union

Tuesday 23 January 2024

1st Alliance (Ayrshire) Credit Union is delighted to announce it has joined Living Wage UK’s, Living Hours movement. The credit union is one of the first five accredited organisations to ensure its employees are guaranteed a number of working hours, so they can meet their everyday needs.

The campaign for a real Living Wage has ensured hundreds of thousands of workers are earning a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum. But millions of low paid workers are also struggling to get the hours they need to make ends meet. That’s why the Living Wage Foundation has developed a new standard of what good looks like for those employers that can offer ‘Living Hours’ alongside a real Living Wage.

Chief Executive of 1st Alliance, Carol McHarg said: “It is a priority at 1st Alliance to ensure our staff feel 100% supported by the credit union. Daily our staff overcame challenges, going above and beyond the call of duty, doing what we do best, continuing to provide a high standard of customer service to all. Therefore, we’re delighted to be accredited the Living Hours movement, as we acknowledge the honest, hard work and respect staff show to our members every day.”

Speaking to members at its recent AGM in February, the Chair of 1st Alliance spoke about the vital role staff have made during the Covid-19 pandemic. “The Board is extremely proud that we were able to continue to provide members with vital financial services throughout the year, whilst ensuring members safety and that of staff,” says Chair, Ann Robertson MBE. “Daily our staff overcame challenges, going above and beyond the call of duty, doing what we do best, continuing to provide a high standard of customer service to all, but especially the more vulnerable who would otherwise have been disproportionately impacted upon.”