Failure on pay is leaving the public sector weaker as skilled and experienced workers leave

The Commons Public Accounts Committee has published a report on Civil Service pay, recruitment and performance which highlights issues contributing to the current recruitment crisis.

In particular the report pointed to disparities in pay for people on the same grade but in different departments, something that is amplified further when you compare arms length bodies with departments.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“The Public Accounts Committee is absolutely right to highlight pay as a major problem for morale and recruitment in the Civil Service.

“Treasury control of the pay remit process leaves the Cabinet Office in charge of setting pay across the Civil Service in name only with the lack of progression through pay scales a major factor in the recruitment and retention crisis. This was highlighted by the recent People Survey which showed pay satisfaction worst in places like APHA, Defra and CEFAS.

“Many areas have private sector analogues, from procurement experts in the Ministry of Defence to health and safety inspectors at the Health and Safety Executive. The failure to pay a comparable rate is leaving the public sector weaker as skilled and experienced workers seek better terms elsewhere.

“The issue is not just about pay though. Good employee relations, which have broken down significantly in recent years, must be a priority for the next government. Only with better pay, and better engagement with its skilled workforce and their unions will the government be able to deliver on its priorities.”