Big jump in £70k-plus top earners in States
Wednesday 14th September 2011, 2:30PM BST.
SIXTY-FIVE States employees were promoted into the top public sector pay bands last year – meaning their salary and benefits total at least £70,000.
Figures contained in the 2010 States Accounts revealed a 28% jump – from 227 to 292 – in the number of staff joining the ‘senior employees’ gross cost pay bands – taking account of salary, employer social insurance and employer final salary pension contributions.
At a time when departments are operating under a States resolution to restrict expenditure increases at or below inflation, the top earners cost taxpayers a minimum of £25.1m. last year, up from £19.5m. in 2009.
Chamber of Commerce president Julian Winser said government was completely out of touch with modern economic realities.
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Hello Press
How does your report correspond to the Minister’s foreword in the same document that states that FTE has reduced by 43 in 201 and pay costs DECREASED in real terms?
Or are you just out to grab headlines AND/OR bash the civil service?
Is it not simply that as the States automate more processes and at the same time are faced with increasing scrutiny from within and externally in a global marketplace where professionals are required, the proportion of so-called “top earners” is bound to increase to attract the necessary talent?
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Another misleading headline, contradicted by the article content itself. The £70k refers to their EMPLOYMENT COST, not salary. Taking into account the 6.5% SSI and minimum 14.1% pension (some sectors significantly more) the actual salary for somebody who costs £70k is likely to be more like £58k. The reason for the apparent “promotion” may be partly down to the pay increase for that year, increased SSI contributions and in some cases pension contributions.
If the Press thinks that the Civil Service offers such poor value for money, consider that large Departments have budgets of £50m plus and their Chief Officer is likely to be paid around £110,000 – now compare that to the Post Office that has a turnover of around £44m. How much did the Press decide their directors were paid? Probably still nowehere near as much as many private sector employees…
And, as ever, don’t forget that the only perk Civil Servants get is the priveledge of trying their hardest to deliver decent service to everybody else on the Island.
Now, over to you, Mr. Editor – how much do you get paid?
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Another misleading States bashing headline in the Press in my opinion – at first glance it appears that nearly three hundred States employees EARN £70k+ but when you read further into the article these people COST the taxpayer £70k+ a year to employ – a big difference.
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I don’t wish to bash civil servants but you are getting one hell of a pension compared to the rest of us. so questor serving the public is not your only perk.
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The people the Press interviewed in the street clearly were unaware that many CS staff work long hours for which they receive no extra pay at all.
In the housing department for instance it is not unusual to find senior staff working at 8 o’clock at night or even later and I have received e-mails from them as have other board members regularly on weekends and late evenings. It is unfair but unfortunately typical of the press to gauge opinions from people who have little or no idea of the true picture of Civil Service employees.
I have been critical myself of some of the more creative practices in the CS but this last press artical on pay was just plain wrong.
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My old boss always used to say “If you can’t do the job in normal hours you’ve been promoted beyond your capability”
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