premise: The living wage represents the minimum hourly rate for employment which allows an individual to cover their basic costs of living. This wage is set at 9.15 per hour in London and 7.85 per hour in the rest of the UK. This difference in living wage between London and the rest of the UK is explained by the significant costs associated with living in London. The minimum wage is currently 6.50 for employees aged over 21 and 5.13 for employees aged between 18 and 20. This is lower than the living wage values quoted above and represents the legal minimum wage. It would be illegal for an employer to pay less than these values. Although many employers have agreed to pay a living wage, they are not legally obliged to do so. The introduction of the living wage in companies has been argued to be beneficial for these companies. Many employers found that employees who were paid the living wage were able to work harder with better quality. It has also improved the quality of life for the families of employees as it has allowed those who are parents to spend more time with their children. However, some employers have argued that the introduction of the living wage would force them to fire some workers, forcing others to work harder.
hypothesis: Introducing a living wage would be beneficial for all employees.