What Does It Mean to Be a Living Wage Employer?
When we say we’re a Living Wage employer, we mean we pay every team member at least the real Living Wage – higher than the legal minimum — adequate to meet everyday needs. We are accredited for doing so, which also signals that we meet external standards for fair pay.
On our About Us page, we explain that since 2019, we made the decision to pay above the legal minimum and become accredited as a Living Wage employer.
The Business Case: Why Paying a Living Wage Helps Everyone
The Living Wage Foundation outlines compelling evidence that paying a real Living Wage isn’t just altruism – it strengthens businesses. Some highlights include:
- 94% of accredited employers report benefits from their accreditation.
- 87% say it improved reputation, 66% say it differentiated them in their markets, and 62% say it improved recruitment.
- Employers also report it helps in winning contracts or funding, especially in environments where social responsibility counts.
All of this means that paying fairly pays off – for employees, for business strength, and for clients like you.
How You, as a Customer, Gain from Our Living Wage Approach
Here’s how you – our clients, project partners, and collaborators – get direct and indirect advantages from us being a Living Wage employer:
1. Higher motivation & retention → more consistency, less churn
When team members feel valued and fairly compensated, they’re more likely to stay, stay focused, and go the extra mile. That consistency and institutional knowledge means less disruption for your projects, fewer handovers, and a more cohesive team working on your work.
2. Stronger company reputation = trust and credibility
Many people and organisations recognise the Living Wage accreditation and see it as a mark of integrity and ethical business practice. When you partner with a company that values fairness, your decision reflects well on your own ethics, brand, and values – especially if your customers or stakeholders care about socially responsible businesses.
3. Better recruitment = better talent working on your projects
Thanks to the Living Wage status, we can attract stronger candidates (and more diverse ones) who choose to work with us because of our fairness. With more choice in talent, we can bring you people who are more capable, more motivated, more creative – lifting overall quality for your project.
4. More stability during growth & scaling
As O’Brien Media has grown, especially since 2021, we’ve consciously created more space for team members to work together, moved to better premises, and hired to reinforce our values of inclusion and quality. Having a fair wage foundation smooths transitions, helps with morale, and lets growth happen without undermining your client experience.
5. Aligned values & stronger partnerships
If your own brand cares about fairness, social impact, or ESG (environmental, social, governance) standards, working with an agency that already walks that path simplifies alignment. It means your brand’s image and messaging isn’t undermined by contradictions in who you choose to partner with.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Commitment for You
We don’t see being a Living Wage employer as a one-off milestone. It’s a continuing commitment. As costs rise, markets shift, and our team evolves, we’ll keep reviewing wages, benefits, and inclusion policies to stay ahead. In doing that, we’re investing in you – our clients – because your experience, your trust, and your outcomes depend on the strength, morale, and capability of our team.
Final Thoughts
Your investment in an O’Brien Media project isn’t just paying for web design, development, support, SEO, or marketing. It’s also helping support a business that believes in fairness, dignity, inclusion, and sustainable growth.
When a company treats its people well, the ripples are positive – in quality, stability, care, creativity, and long-term trust. That’s a win for us, for our team, and for you.