Liveable Wage

Seebohm Rowntree’s Quaker upbringing and poverty studies led him to believe that low wages were not helpful to the national economy and made it difficult for workers to maintain decent standards of humanity. As an adviser in Lloyd George’s wartime government he argued strongly for a national minimum wage in England which would enable people to live at a reasonable standard. Seebohm’s research focused very much on how much was required for people to live on and under both Joseph’s and his leadership the company offered attractive working conditions and welfare benefits. These were available to both male and female employees but, despite forming the majority of the workforce, women were paid less and had fewer privileges.