CIPP survey – what is your experience with the Minimum Wage?

21 May 2018

In addition to holding a roundtable meeting, the CIPP policy team also published a survey to gather your views and insight into working with the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage.

The survey asks a number of questions in line with the information and evidence gathering of the Low Pay Commission in their consultation on April 2019 National Minimum Wage rates.

It is estimated that the survey should take about 20 minutes to respond to, subject to the relevance of the questions to your situation. Thank you in advance for responding to as many, or to as few questions as are appropriate for your situation.

At the coal face of pay your views are invaluable and in addition to recommending to the government in October of this year the rates apply from April 2019, research will also include:

The progress and impact of the National Living Wage (NLW)

LPC are seeking evidence that will advise on the best path towards the NLW target of 60 percent of median earnings by 2020, specifically:

  • Views on the affordability and effects of an increase to the ‘on target’ rate for 2019 – currently expected to be around £8.20
  • The impact of increases in the NLW since its introduction, which includes the recent April 2018 uprating
  • How employers are adjusting to the NLW increases i.e. the impacts on pay, terms and conditions, income, hours, employment, productivity, prices and profits
  • Evidence on the economic outlook more generally

National Minimum Wage (NMW) rate recommendations

For the other rates, specifically those affecting workers under 25 and apprentices the LPC seek evidence in order to make recommendations on their traditional basis of ‘helping as many low-paid workers as possible without damaging their employment prospects’, specifically:

  • Evidence on the impact of the rates on younger workers’ employment prospects including how widely the 21-24-Year-Old Rate is used
  • What effect, if any, the gaps between the different rates have on different age groups’ labour market performance.
  • A review of the youth rates of the minimum wage
  • A review of the Apprentice Rate

Premium rates for non-guaranteed work and tackling ‘one-sided flexibility’

This year the LPC have been asked to consider the potential impact of a premium rate (recommended in the Taylor Review) i.e. a higher minimum wage, for those hours that are not 'guaranteed', as well as alternative means for tackling the issue of ‘one-sided flexibility’, which is some workers experiencing uncertain and unpredictable work schedules.

Compliance and enforcement and the accommodation offset

LPC continue to seek views and evidence on your experience and views relating to compliance and the enforcement of the minimum wage which includes gathering your views as to the effectiveness, in protecting low paid workers, of the accommodation offset.

All sectors provide valuable evidence and this year LPC are particularly seeking views from the following:

  • Sectors that make use of flexible contracting practices such as zero and short hours contacts
  • Call centres and security
  • Minimum wage employers and workers in non-low paying sectors
  • Employers of young people and apprentices and youth labour market experts

The survey will run until 12.15pm on Friday 25 May.