National Living Wage makes jobs “more satisfying and interesting”

More than 500 workers over the age of 27, and earning the National Living Wage, were asked how their jobs have changed since the living wage was introduced in April 2016.

The survey found that 62 percent of workers found their satisfaction with work had increased, and 49 percent said that they were trusted to take on more responsibilities.

The majority (73 percent) also said that their job had become more interesting over the previous two years. However, 32 percent commented that they felt their job had also become less secure.

Reuben Singh, chief executive of alldayPA, the contact centre for the SME industry that conducted the survey, said: “Workplaces are evolving as a direct result of the National Living Wage.

“In many cases, it is no longer cost-efficient to have people performing the most basic tasks. Instead, many of these roles are being automated or given to younger trainees, with more expensive staff asked to take on more demanding and rewarding tasks and responsibilities in order to maximise salary increases. This will consequently lead to a greater requirement to up-skill current staff.

“In the short-term this is creating some uncertainty and change, but it is also leading to workers over the age of 25 being encouraged to take on more fulfilling jobs. As a result, we are seeing an increase in training being provided by employers and an increase in workers’ roles and responsibilities.”