Examiner employment status

Headscratcher14

As samcornfield says, we examiners are a "relatively small number of people", but at least half of us are retirees who do the work to supplement our work pensions until our Old Age Pensions kick in (for many of us, well after we leave full-time employment).  As such, this income is very important, and at risk as exams have been cancelled this year.

I got an email from AQA over 3 weeks ago saying they were in discussions with HMRC - but I've heard nothing since then, so I can't assume that I will be getting payments or being furloughed.  We are now only days away from the dates when we would be marking these scripts.  The Boards and HMRC have our contracts and projected earnings, so why the delay IF they are going to pay us?

I am now reluctantly looking at the temporary jobs available while the lockdown is in place and demands in certain areas is high and staff sickness bites - e.g. delivering fast food or parcels.  I know that they would pose a risk to me, but so would waiting, and then when the lockdown is lifted and these jobs have disappeared  finding I am not getting paid/furloughed and struggling to pay winter heating costs etc..

JulianneH

samcornfield said:

JulianneH said:

OK thanks - that might be it then. I will email them tomorrow and ask about it. Thanks again, it is definitely worth trying.

Did you get a response from the exam board or anyone else about support for examiners?  Myself and my husband are examiners and have multiple contracts for the June series which would have made up a significant part of our annual income.  I have heard nothing from them and have tried searching online for an answer to whether we are employed or self-employed or if we will get any support but cannot find anything.  This is a very worrying situation and because there is so much else going on and there are only relatively small numbers of people that will be affected by this no one seems interested in helping.

I asked them to update me and all they said was they would tell me when they knew. I then got the email already mentioned from  one of the boards I work for saying I would be furloughed or offered an exgratia payment. Today I have been told I am being furloughed, but I do a lot of work for them, so I think that is why.  I do not understand the email they sent today and as they sent it at 4pm on the dot and the helpdesk shuts at 4pm on Friday, there is now no-one there to ask. I don't understand exactly what I am going to be paid now If I get any more news I will update. The fact they are not suggesting the self employed scheme makes me think they have decided we are employed, but I suspect those who only mark and do not do other things will be the ones offered an ex-gratia payment. Might be worth contacting the examiner helpline of your boards directly?

EnglishTeacher1

So I've had a further email from the board today. They mention the job retention scheme and say:

"...we believe that your engagement with us is within the scope of the Scheme.

We believe, however, that the amount you would receive through the Scheme would not be sufficient for you to participate."

They then go on to offer a one off ex gratia payment of £250. 

It's a lot less than even a small quota and much less than what I've been getting for the past few years. Not sure how they've calculated the payments. 

Very confused at the moment. 

Headscratcher14

 am as baffled and upset as EnglishTeacher1.

In MSE News, under the heading "Coronovirus - Employees help" it says:

"It's up to your employer to decide and define who is furloughed. It could be because you've no work to do, .... The key to this is that the state is looking to support people, so this isn't about loopholes to catch people out, it's about a broad sweep to gather people in."

I would have thought that because we've got no work to do (despite having contracts) as the exams were cancelled, so should be getting at least 80% of what we were anticipated to receive for this summer's work.  Surely therefore we should be "gathered in" by Boards/HMRC.

Somewhere else (can't remember where) it said calculations could be based on equivalent earning  for the same period in the previous year.

I know examiners are self-employed contractors, but even so, Government advice on the furlough scheme from their website under the heading "If you’re on a fixed term contract" states:

"If you were on a fixed term contract your employer can re-employ, furlough and claim for you..." - it goes on to quote dates that clearly apply to us.

Either way, I thought the government's intention was to get everyone stopped from working as a result of the virus at least 80% of their anticipated earnings to prevent hardship.  I can see no reason why we should get anything less than this figure.

EnglishTeacher1

@Headscratcher14 this was my understanding when the first email came. To offer £250 and then say it will be taxed as well is somewhat insulting especially as schools have paid their fees and won’t be receiving refunds. I will be contacting the board tomorrow - hopefully they can help make sense of things. 

Headscratcher14

I would hope that common sense would prevail, that the Boards recognise us as important workers for them during this period and would furlough us so would get at least 80% of either our anticipated earnings this year on our contracts, or last year's equivalent earnings.  If they don't, then I would suggest we are being badly served by them.

Should that be the case, and we (or at least those of us retirees financially relying on this work) be directed to wade through the regulations and paperwork for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme mentioned earlier in this thread, or other means-tested benefits, then surely that will cause us unnecessary stress at this difficult time.  Not only that, but it would also create more work, not only for us, but also the HMRC and other agencies. 

I do not believe it is the Government's intention to cause divisions in the workforce, or create more work for tax and benefits staff at this time, so perhaps they could bring pressure to bear if this is not sorted out speedily.

JulianneH

EnglishTeacher1 said:

So I've had a further email from the board today. They mention the job retention scheme and say:

"...we believe that your engagement with us is within the scope of the Scheme.

We believe, however, that the amount you would receive through the Scheme would not be sufficient for you to participate."

They then go on to offer a one off ex gratia payment of £250. 

It's a lot less than even a small quota and much less than what I've been getting for the past few years. Not sure how they've calculated the payments. 

Very confused at the moment. 

I would definitely contact the examiner helpdesk about this. They should explain how it was calculated. If everyone who is unhappy contacts them, I think they will get the message the major part of their workforce, however temporary, is unhappy. That will nto be good for them as none of us are stupid and none of us appreciate being taken as mugs. The work we do is not very well paid as it is, given its importance!

JulianneH

Headscratcher14 said:

I would hope that common sense would prevail, that the Boards recognise us as important workers for them during this period and would furlough us so would get at least 80% of either our anticipated earnings this year on our contracts, or last year's equivalent earnings.  If they don't, then I would suggest we are being badly served by them.

Should that be the case, and we (or at least those of us retirees financially relying on this work) be directed to wade through the regulations and paperwork for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme mentioned earlier in this thread, or other means-tested benefits, then surely that will cause us unnecessary stress at this difficult time.  Not only that, but it would also create more work, not only for us, but also the HMRC and other agencies. 

I do not believe it is the Government's intention to cause divisions in the workforce, or create more work for tax and benefits staff at this time, so perhaps they could bring pressure to bear if this is not sorted out speedily.

I agree with you there, I am already feeling quite put out that we are in this predicament and it is not of our making. I will let you know what the helpdesk says n reply to my 3 emails about it. I suggest you contact them too?

EnglishTeacher1

I contacted the helpdesk on Monday and was told everything had to be via email. I emailed straightaway. Still waiting on a response from them as I just got the standard automated one. I am mindful that the deadline to accept the ex gratia is Friday and if they do not reply before then, I either just accept the low ex gratia payment or I lose it entirely in the hope that they can indeed furlough us as we are on the PAYE pay roll. 

JulianneH

EnglishTeacher1 said:

I contacted the helpdesk on Monday and was told everything had to be via email. I emailed straightaway. Still waiting on a response from them as I just got the standard automated one. I am mindful that the deadline to accept the ex gratia is Friday and if they do not reply before then, I either just accept the low ex gratia payment or I lose it entirely in the hope that they can indeed furlough us as we are on the PAYE pay roll. 

I hope they get back to you asap then, being as you have an urgent decision to make. I emailled on Friday. Still heard nothing BUT I do not have the deadline you have been given as my circs are different, so I am happy to wait whilst they sort out urgent cases like yours. Fingers crossed you hear soon.