PRP: Evidence of ongoing discrimination as council refuses to share full figures

Distribution of 5 ratings by salary band 2012-13

There is strong evidence that performance related pay continues to detrimentally impact on BME, average and low-paid, older and disabled staff. However having previously promised to provide the full figures of appraisal ratings to UNISON like they did last year, senior management is now refusing to provide these figures and has also rejected our Freedom of Information request.

The lengthy report published by management on essentials today leaves out the information which showed up the biggest discrepancies in the system last year. Namely in the awarding of ratings nearer the top or bottom of the scales which either block pay progression or attract bigger pay rises – worth up to over £3000 for senior managers.

Amongst other things, the figures for the previous year showed that those earning over £60k were 33 times more likely to receive an exceptional rating (of 5) than those earning under £20k, and white staff were 350% more likely to be rated as exceptional than black workers.

Camden’s report omits this level of detail, instead only including averages. But even these averages do show an ongoing detriment to those on middle and lower salaries (£40k and below) and to black and minority ethnic staff members as well as the other groups mentioned above.

We are appealing against the rejection of our FOI request.

 In the meantime we are continuing to discuss members’ concerns with the appraisal and performance related pay process with senior management, and will report back with any developments.

We would also echo the call from Camden HR for members to feedback their views and concerns about PRP to them to this e-mail address: himali.wijesinghe@camden.gov.uk.