Will the Commission confirm: a) whether a winter hardship or cost-of-living payment will be paid to Commission staff; b) if so, whether there is a criteria that anyone above a certain salary is exempt from the payment; and c) if so, what is that salary cut off point?
Commissioners have endorsed the Executive Board’s proposal for a cost-of-living payment of £500 to be paid to Commission Staff on the lowest two pay bands. The Commission has used the ONS UK average salary figure of circa £32,000 as guide which sits just above the second lowest grade.
The Commission benchmarked against a number of other comparable institutions and consulted our trades unions. The agreed amount represents a balance between providing support to our lowest graded staff and our need for financial prudence.