Negotiating Civil Service Starting Pay

sammyjammy

TELLIT01 wrote: »

At HEO grade it's entirely possible you won't even get a 1% rise each year. When the cap was originally introduced, nobody earning over £21k got any rise.

Not quite, that was when there was a pay freeze, before the cap was introduced.

TELLIT01

sammyjammy wrote: »

Not quite, that was when there was a pay freeze, before the cap was introduced.

I'm thankfully out of that loop now. People I do know who still work for DWP are hearing that they will still get two thirds of very little as a payrise AND will have their contracted hours changed!

antonic

As others have said you cant negotiate your own pay, you will enter the pay scale and whatever level its deemed appropriate.

Are you aware that with the new contracts being offered that you stand no chance of getting to the pay max as all you will be offered is the annual pay insult (sorry pay rise).

Also the 1% payrise bring quoted is NOT 1% of your annual pay, it is 1% of your Departments pay budget, so for example you may only be offered 0.7% and then it may be non consolidated (ie doesnt count towards your pension) as happened to me for 2014-15.

Obviously., if the pay isnt enough dont take the job.

TELLIT01

antonic wrote: »

As others have said you cant negotiate your own pay, you will enter the pay scale and whatever level its deemed appropriate.

Are you aware that with the new contracts being offered that you stand no chance of getting to the pay max as all you will be offered is the annual pay insult (sorry pay rise).

Also the 1% payrise bring quoted is NOT 1% of your annual pay, it is 1% of your Departments pay budget, so for example you may only be offered 0.7% and then it may be non consolidated (ie doesnt count towards your pension) as happened to me for 2014-15.

Obviously., if the pay isnt enough dont take the job.

Just to expand on my previous post. I was speaking to somebody who still works in the same DWP office where I worked. She will get the mighty increase of £7 per month, because she's at the top of her band. Existing staff can opt out of the new contract, but at the same time will lose any payrise they might otherwise have got. Obviously any new staff will be put on the new contract which covers 8am to 8pm Monday - Friday plus some Saturday working. It is already being suggested that those who opt for an 8am start will have to be in a position to actually be able to work at that time. As it can still take 10 to 15 minutes to get all systems up and running it seems they will actually have to be there at 7:45. Likewise those working to 8pm will have to answer call up to that time so could be leaving considerably later.

Sanne

TELLIT01 wrote: »

It is already being suggested that those who opt for an 8am start will have to be in a position to actually be able to work at that time. As it can still take 10 to 15 minutes to get all systems up and running it seems they will actually have to be there at 7:45. Likewise those working to 8pm will have to answer call up to that time so could be leaving considerably later.

Like in most other businesses then...

Adereterial

Unless you have specific and sought after skills, you will start on the HEO pay scale at the bottom. Even if you have those skills, you'll only get paid for them if they're directly relevant. Pay is reviewed annually and you're likely to get no more than 1%. It may or may not be consolidated. You may also get a bonus, depending on performance, which won't be consolidated.

If that's too little for you, you may find other departments pay more. However, I'd assume that anyone applying for HEO would have realised civil service jobs are paid less than the equivalent private sector position.

For info - You generally can't negotiate your salary at G7, either.

mimshack01

Very helpful comments. Thank you all.