Civil service specialists and managers believe that their pay structure
is "broken and needs fixing", according to a survey of thousands of
members of the Prospect trade union.
The survey (external website) reveals a slump in staff morale, with almost two-thirds of respondents reporting lower levels of job satisfaction compared with a year ago. Pay levels and pay progression are the main causes of dissatisfaction.
And while working hours, holidays and pension are viewed positively, there is a feeling that these benefits are under threat, with work pressures eroding holiday entitlements and non-consolidated pay increases undermining pension levels.
More than two-thirds of respondents were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their organisation's pay structure, with the time taken to progress up pay bands a major factor: one-third of staff who have been in their current band for more than a decade say they have yet to reach the top.
Bonus pay is also seen as a problem, with three-quarters of respondents questioning the fairness of the distribution of bonuses, and many unsure about how to qualify for a bonus payment.
The survey follows a series of disputes during the 2007-08 pay rounds, involving Prospect members in departments including the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Constitutional Affairs, HM Prison Service and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Dai Hudd, deputy general secretary of Prospect, says: "The chaotic state of civil service pay is doing serious damage to the quality of science and technical advice carried out for government."
And while working hours, holidays and pension are viewed positively, there is a feeling that these benefits are under threat, with work pressures eroding holiday entitlements and non-consolidated pay increases undermining pension levels.
More than two-thirds of respondents were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their organisation's pay structure, with the time taken to progress up pay bands a major factor: one-third of staff who have been in their current band for more than a decade say they have yet to reach the top.
Bonus pay is also seen as a problem, with three-quarters of respondents questioning the fairness of the distribution of bonuses, and many unsure about how to qualify for a bonus payment.
The survey follows a series of disputes during the 2007-08 pay rounds, involving Prospect members in departments including the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Constitutional Affairs, HM Prison Service and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Dai Hudd, deputy general secretary of Prospect, says: "The chaotic state of civil service pay is doing serious damage to the quality of science and technical advice carried out for government."
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