The GMB has said four in ten of its HC-One members are considering leaving due to low pay.

In a story published by The Mirror the union said workers were going without food and basic healthcare because of salaries that were as low as £10.47 an hour.

The GMB said around 4,000 of HC-One’s 19,000 staff are members of the union.

Natalie Grayson, GMB national officer, said: “HC One carers dedicate their working life to looking after our loved ones.

“Yet the poverty pay they have to survive on means they can’t afford to feed their own loved ones or keep them warm in winter.

“HC One directors seem to be doing very well for themselves – they must make sure the company lives up to its ‘kind’ reputation.

“HC one should be as proud of its workers as it is its investors. GMB demands the Real Living Wage for all HC One care workers now.”

HC-One said staff turnover had improved 22% in the past 11 months, and there had been a 10% increase in carers joining since August 2022.

A spokesperson for HC-One said: “Our care colleagues contribute an incredible amount to the communities we serve, and we are committed to ensuring that they are well rewarded for the high-quality care they provide.

“In April 2023, our new pay rates came into effect which ensured c.80% of our colleagues were on the most recent Real Living Wage rates or above, with all care colleagues able to earn the Real Living Wage after two years of service. This was thanks to a £32.5 million investment in pay across our organisation, which also raised the rate of our lowest paid colleagues by almost 10%. This increase was above both private and public sector pay awards, and was received positively by members of the GMB, who voted to accept the pay offer.

“Our mission has not changed, and we remain absolutely committed to going above and beyond for our 19,000+ colleagues. Given the recently announced increase in Real Living Wage rates, we will continue to work towards providing the best possible pay and career development offer for our colleagues.

“We are also continuing to engage at length with our local authority and NHS partners, who fund the majority of the residents we support, to secure fee uplifts that will enable us to go further still on colleague pay.

“Everything we do starts with our frontline care colleagues, and rewarding them for their invaluable contribution is of the utmost importance to us.”