I give my staff an extra £120 a month to help them pay bills – I want to support them through cost of living crisis
A GENEROUS DIY boss has given his staff a £120-a-month pay boost to help them combat spiralling bills.
Martin Finlayson, 49, put his hand in his pocket to help employees at his Lothian Building Supplies firm based near Tranent, south east Scotland.
The "cost of living allowance" will see workers' pay packets swell regardless of the role they perform in the business until further notice.
Martin has acknowledged the move will not solve household problems but hopes to ease the burden of the cost of living crisis slightly.
He said: "We are nothing without our staff.
"Fuel and energy bills are through the roof, it's hard out there for everyone.
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"That's why we are now introducing a £120 per month cost of living allowance extra payment for all staff irrespective of role because we are all part of the same team.
"It won't fix everything wrong with the world but hopefully it will ease the pressure on staff and their families just a little."
The move was widely praised on social media.
One user said: "This guy certainly understands the value of his employees. Well done Martin Finlayson."
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Another added: "How wonderful."
Lothian Building Supplies has served Edinburgh and the Lothians for more than 20 years.
Energy prices have risen by 54 percent after a cap was lifted by the government last week.
It means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £1,941 a year.
Council tax and water bills are also going up for many people, added to the rising cost of food and household items.
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Chancellor Rishi Sunak last month announced a 5p per litre reduction in fuel duty as motorists struggled with soaring costs.
The move will last until next March.