A YORK charity has found that their care staff turnover has halved since they introduced the living wage in 2013.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation employs more than 500 care workers. Since the introduction of the policy they have seen staff turnover fall from 26 per cent to 12 per cent each year.

The figure was announced in a speech by Shaun Rafferty, chief operating officer at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, at the Civil Society Media’s inaugural People and Culture conference in London this week.

Mr Rafferty said: “Paying staff the Living Wage can have positive benefits for business as well as for staff. Since we introduced the Living Wage in our care homes, staff turnover has halved, we’ve lost fewer days to stress and sickness and staff have become more engaged in the business.

“But doing more for staff isn’t just about pay. There are other things that we’re doing, like helping staff to access digital services, financial advice and mental health support, which make JRF and JRHT a better place to work.”

The Foundation has noted other benefits since 2013. Customer service ratings by clients has gone up, diversity among staff has improved, and rates of sickness, stress and mental health problems amongst staff have reduced.