PCS ANGERED BY PRIME MINISTERS LACK OF COURAGE TO DEAL WITH HOME SECRETARY’S BULLYING

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Summary: PCS reacts with anger as the Prime Minister refuses to take action over bullying by the Home Secretary after inquiry says she broke rules on ministers’ behaviour.

 

 

Many PCS members working in the Home Office and associated organisations will be aware of the ongoing bullying investigation into the Home Secretary which was linked to the resignation of the last Permanent Secretary.  Members disappointment at the slow process of this investigation will now be shocked by the Prime Minister’s lack of action against Priti Patel now that the report has concluded.
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Home Office Pay 2020

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1st October 2020

HO/MB/050/20

Summary: Department publishes final offer letter for 2020 Home Office pay.

Background

The Department has today published their final offer letter in relation to Pay 2020.  This follows negotiations which the department opened in July and continued in August.  The implementation has been delayed by the roll out of Metis.

The Treasury published its pay guidance document in May.  This sets out how departments can implement pay awards each year.  This year the document expected awards between 1.5% and 2%.  However, flexibility to use up to 2.5% of monies was allowed if demonstrable improvements in systems and equality outcomes could be demonstrated.

What’s important to note is that the actual new money available from the Treasury is in fact only 1%.  This means that in order to top it up to 2.5% use of internal recycled funds is necessary.  This exposes the inherent problem with negotiations – the lack of funding from the Government.

The Government have limited the amount of new funding to only 1% meaning that the substantial pay award that our members need cannot be funded.  Our national pay claim was for a 10% rise in order to recognise the years of below inflation pay rises that have been imposed, but the refusal of the Government to properly engage with our national union means discussions locally were in a tough position. Continue reading →

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SIGNIFICANT PCS CAMPAIGN VICTORY MAJOR CHANGE TO PDR SYSTEM

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HO/MB/043/2020
Summary: For many years PCS has been campaigning for a significant change in the way our reporting system is operated. As a result of our campaigning that change is on its way.

 

Members will have been aware that for many years, PCS have been campaigning for a significant change to the PDR system operated in Home Office. In the first instance, we sought to remove the system of forced distribution, moderation and box marking quotas. This change came about in 2017, but, despite the change, PCS did not feel that this went far enough and sought to remove the system of year-end and mid-year box marking.

 

PCS felt that the star rating system was one that created an adversarial environment, hindering honest conversations, where managers felt obliged to fill quotas.  Likewise, we felt that the half year and end of year report process was a significant drain on resources and was essentially an arbitrary construct.  Ultimately, assigning a nominal star rating in October and March did nothing to aid continual development of our members throughout the year and their careers. Continue reading →

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