IDS Pay Report 995, February 2008

Local government

The latest IDS local government pay benchmarking survey finds that almost a year on from the 31 March 2007 deadline for implementation of local pay and grading structures, less than half of councils have done so. And most of these are smaller authorities. Of those councils that have implemented a new pay structure, the median proportion of employees gaining increased earnings potential as a result is 35 per cent, compared with 13 per cent of employees with reduced earnings potential. Just over two-fifths of respondents have had equal pay claims lodged against then since 1997 and of these a fifth expect to make compensation payments. Almost all respondents to the survey have experienced recruitment and retention difficulties over the past year particularly among social workers, planners and care staff and over two-thirds of councils are using market supplements to ease recruitment and retention difficulties. We provide current salary ranges for major service areas and look at the progression schemes councils have put in place.

... the full article can be read in IDS Pay Report 995.