Donate to our real Living Wage Christmas fundraising campaign
Up and down the UK, working families will be feeling the financial squeeze as Christmas approaches. Despite being the season of giving, joy and festive cheer, this period can bring with it great pressures on people. Britain’s high street – the great profiteers of the festive period – made £88.29 billion of revenue last Christmas (online and in-store), yet many of these companies fail to provide their own staff with the dignity of a real Living Wage.
But this can change. Through the power of responsible investment, shareholders in these big retailers can come together to influence positive action. We recently published a report that demonstrates why the hypocrisy of these huge profits coupled with low pay is so common in the retail sector. We detailed why it’s a risk to our society and economy and why everyday people, and the investors that manage their money, must do something about it.
The scale of the problem
Christmas is a busy period, especially for working families who feel the strain of balancing festive cheer with financial reality. The cost of gifts, meals, decorations, and social events quickly adds up, leaving many households stretched to their limits. Last Christmas, the Food Foundation reported that two-thirds of people using food hubs worried about affording enough food to feed themselves or their children. Similarly, Salvation Army data revealed that nearly seven in ten people were concerned about affording Christmas dinner, while one in seven couldn’t give their children a present. As a result, fewer than half of all workers could afford to take time off to celebrate with their families, underscoring how financial pressures rob many of the joy of the holiday.
Christmas is also a busy period for retailers with them gearing up for their most profitable part of the year. Shops are bustling, warehouses are running at full capacity, and staff are working tirelessly to keep shelves stocked and customers happy. This surge in activity doesn’t just apply to the brick-and-mortar stores; online shopping adds to the pressure, with many workers in warehouses and delivery services clocking long hours to meet demand. While businesses reap the rewards of this festive frenzy, the people behind the scenes - cashiers, cleaners, and drivers, often see little benefit from the season's profits, as many still earn the lowest legally required. In total, 818,000 workers in the sector earn below the real Living Wage.
In our recent report, we compared the pay practice of eleven of the UK’s largest publicly listed retailers and found that a shocking seven don’t match the real Living Wage for their directly employed staff and zero guarantee it for all of their third-party contractors.
Low pay is also bad for business
This isn’t just unfair for these workers - low pay and insecure work limits consumer spending power, stunting economic growth and reducing long-term returns for investors. Research shows a clear link between wage inequality and systemic risks, such as economic stagnation and financial instability, which can ripple across all sectors.
Ultimately, low pay and insecure work harms not just workers but also the very investors and businesses that rely on a stable and prosperous economy.
Even further, research has shown that higher wages lead to lower staff turnover, reduced recruitment costs, and better-trained, more motivated employees. This boosts productivity, improves customer service, and enhances operational efficiency, benefiting businesses and investors alike. See our interview with Brett Mendell, Living Wage champion, for living proof of this.
Take action
Make your voice heard by signing our petition or consider making a donation via our Christmas Living Wage campaign. By taking action, we can help ensure that the festive season truly becomes a time of giving—not just for retailers, but for everyone.
If you’re an investor – use your influence to encourage companies to adopt better workforce practices by supporting initiatives like ShareAction’s Good Work programme, which pushes for fair wages and secure working conditions.
