Public Sector Pay Freeze

[funkylad20]

I work in the public sector, for a well known national quango ("non-departmental government body"). I have been in my job for 2 years and three months now.

I am on a grade and started at the bottom of this grade, with the understanding when I was employed that I would increase up the band at a rate dependent upon performance; we have 'performance related pay reviews' each year. In my first year, I achieved one of the highest marks, with only 10% of the workforce here achieving this level.

With the new Government and cuts last May, we were told that we were to have a pay freeze from May 2010 onwards for a period of two years.

Despite the initial frustration I felt at this (after all I had been employed for 15 months and was expecting a pay-rise based on my performance from February 2009 - May 2010), I let it go and got on with my work, albeit with a little less enthusiasm to go over-and-above my role and commit to extra hours when necessary. I should also add, I have colleagues in the same office doing the same role who are on some £3k-4k more than I am, simply because they started a few months before I did (I fell foul of starting in February, towards the end of a financial year, after a re-grading of the job).

However, I have recently found out that friends who work for a local large county council have had an increase in their pay, either up their banding structure or for the 'cost of living'.

HOW is this possible? Is what I have experienced even legal? It does seem incredibly unfair to stay at the bottom of my grade for a total of 39 months (presuming this freeze will end in May 2012?). I totally appreciate that cuts are needed, but not sure how certain public sector jobs have avoided this?

[Eve]

I was going to mention to £250 payment for those under £21k as well, we had a memo this morning.

With so many people losing their jobs I'm grateful to have one albeit I'm earning way less than I have been, it's a recession, not a lot I can do but muddle through and hope for better things once the economy picks up.

I see it that, as usual, I put as much effort in as I can in the hope it serves me well when things do pick up and that effort is rewarded and the reward in itself for knowing you've done a good job. It's not great but there's not a lot that can be done about it than to wait it out and hope that things will improve, that or look for another job whch pays better if that is an option for you.

[boxtops]

I must admit that at the moment, with the NHS shedding jobs to meet management cost cuts, I'm grateful still to have a job.

[boxtops]

^^ and I believe the same applies to other public sector organisations, I meant to add - friends who work for the County Council are also facing huge cutbacks.

[Prudie]

me too, my dept is currently facing a redundancy situation. One comment I would make to the OP, my branch opted out of performance pay several years ago but that didn't stop me being conscientious about putting in maximum effort rather than 'got on with my work, albeit with a little less enthusiasm to go over-and-above my role and commit to extra hours when necessary' but maybe more fool me.

[karenmac60]

I agree to a point Boxtops, that we are/should be grateful for still having jobs. But in my department just now, we are losing many long and hard fought for terms and conditions. Things that we and our predecessors went out on strike and lost a lot of money to get and things that we will never get back (and I'm not talking about huge perks and bonuses here, small things like a small allowance for working unsociable hours which made it seem fairer when some workers had to while others didn't). All those things are being lost, our wages are being cut, our workload is being added to and we are supposed to just be grateful that we have a job, even though it no longer supports our meagre lifestyle.

[mike11111]

(Sob!)

[karenmac60]

What is your problem Mike? People who work in the public sector don't deserve a living wage? We work hard and we often go above and beyond the call of duty, for often very low wages - but you seem to think that's just tough and we have no right to complain about it. I'd like to see you cope without any public services - you might realise that we are in fact, worth something.