TenTel is a fast growing, independent Scottish telecoms business which is challenging the big four telephone and broadband providers. Earlier this week it announced plans to create 40 new jobs in the Edinburgh area, many of which will be based in its customer service department.
Responding to today’s report by Citizens Advice Scotland about poor pay and conditions for Scottish workers, Robert McKechnie, managing director of TenTel explained why his company pays all of its employees an hourly rate set above the Living Wage.
He said: “There has been plenty of discussion recently around the living wage. We are an accredited Living Wage employer and call on other Scottish businesses to follow suit.
“There is a big difference between the hourly rate of the living wage – currently set at £7.85 – and the national minimum wage of £6.50. At TenTel we pay above the London rate Living Wage to attract the right staff and reward them for providing a world-class customer service. We do not offer zero hours contracts as we believe they have a negative impact on performance and job satisfaction. Instead we focus on training and retaining excellent individuals who will help us to give our customers the best possible experience when dealing with TenTel.
“The telecoms industry gets bad press for the way it deals with its customers but we want to change that. Our vision is to hear all our customers say ‘wow’ and by building an enviable staff culture and workplace environment, we are confident that every member of staff will help us to achieve this.
“Employers who treat their staff badly may make a short term gain but an unhappy workforce means underproductive people, angry customers and reputational damage to the business.”
According to Citizens Advice Scotland, our workforce are caught in a cruel trap of low incomes and poor working conditions.
In a report to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism committee, CAS reveals that the numbers of employment cases seen by Scottish CABs has risen by 12% in the last four years, and is now at its highest level ever. The most common cases include low pay, with-held wages, as well as unfair dismissal, bullying, exploitation, racism and discrimination.
While workers rights are being ignored, new fees for Employment Tribunals are causing problems for many people on low incomes who feel unable to challenge unfair treatment.
www.tentel.co.uk
Citizens Advice Scotland report: http://www.cas.org.uk/news/msps-told-cruel-pay-and-conditions-trap-faced-scottish-workers