Rejecting jobs because they don't pay the living wage

[pointersp]

Where I live minimum wage is £10.75 and the living wage is £12.01.

I honestly find it terrible that any employer can offer under the living wage, defined as the 'minimum amount to allow people the basic opportunities and choices necessary for them to participate in society'.

I won't give my personal circumstances except I've recently left a minimum wage job.

I have something to tide me over until I find next employment with interviews lined up next week. I'm expecting some of the jobs I have interviews for next week to offer minimum wage, so my question is, is it professional/acceptable of me to boldly reject these jobs with the reason being that they aren't offering the living wage and the definition?

You are not in the UK, but your country pays £10.75 per hour minimum wage, which happens to be exactly the UK minimum wage. Which country exactly are you in that pays the minimum wage in £UK?

But whilst I would broadly agree with the premise about living wages, that isn't your real question. You want to only accept jobs at a wage that you want. You are being entirely reasonable in that. Provided that you aren't claiming benefits in this non- UK country and living of your own money and not that of others. If you expect others to pay for you to make that choice, then that is unreasonable. You take any job offered and then you can apply for jobs with more wage once in employment.

who would invest in a company that barely makes a profit

without investor no company = no jobs

@Neriah from what I've found, the UK minimum wage is £10.42 (although is referred to as the 'living wage' still?). So where I am being £10.75 minimum wage/£12.01 living wage is different.

I just wanted to clarify to a PP that I wasn't in the UK so therefore the changes to their minimum wages isn't applicable to me, and to make it clear that there is a distinction between the minimum wage/living wage where I am (which is my whole issue), and there doesn't seem to be a different between the minimum/living wage in the UK (correct me if I'm wrong and they're actually two different figures there too).

@pointersp there is a real living wage in the UK which is currently £12 (£13.15 in London) & some employers are signed up to the scheme to pay that but the government refer to the NMW as the living wage which I think is misleading.

I understand the living wage as a social science concept, counting how much money people need to live and participate in society.
In many countries there is no specific connection between the resulting living wage and legal minimal wage, the law typically doesn't know the living wage concept.

I understand that in the UK some companies subscribed to the idea and use it as marketing tool - see how nice we are.
In my country LIDL did very similar thing (raising wages a bit and making a big campaign about it) without referencing the name living wage at all.

That said, if you can afford to turn down jobs which pay below the wage you consider minimal acceptable, there is nothing unprofessional about doing it. If you want to save some time, maybe you can tell them before going for the interview, that you don't want to waste everyone's time, so if they can let you know, whether they are able to offer...

Unsurprisingly, you didn't bother to explain who is paying for your choice. You or everyone else?

@Neriah excuse me?

I literally explained that I've just finished in a minimum wage job and have income to tide me over while I find next employment. What are you talking about 'didn't bother to explain who is 'paying for my choice''?

Checking back your comment, you didn't even actually ask the question of where I get my current income, not that it would be your business at all anyway.

But just for your peace of mind, I'm not in receipt of any benefits. Hope that helps you?