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2023/24 pay review

Date released
14 August 2023
Request number
202307021
Release of information under
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)

Information requested

I was wondering whether the 2023/24 employee pay review has now been finalised and implemented.

If so, please see below questions, or if it has yet to be concluded do you happen to know when would be best to submit the request again?

  1. Please state the effective date (day and month) of your organisation’s 2023 pay review covering Department staff below Senior Civil Service level.
  2. If the 2023 pay review has yet to be finalised please state the month in which you anticipate it will be concluded.
  3. Please state the employee group/s covered by the 2023 pay review.
  4. Please state the total number of employees covered by the 2023 pay review.
  5. Please provide a copy of your 2023 pay agreement (if applicable) or generic pay circular sent to employees (that is one that does not identify any individual employee) outlining the outcome of the latest pay review if there are no collective negotiations.
  6. Please state the % consolidated basic pay rise received by the lowest-paid adult employee as a result of the 2023 pay review excluding the effect of any incremental progression, merit pay or bonuses.
  7. If an employee’s annual pay award is determined solely according to an assessment of their individual performance (commonly known as a merit increase) as opposed to an across-the-board pay rise (where all employees generally receive the same increase irrespective of their individual performance) please state the percentage of the paybill allocated to fund these awards, the average increase and whether or not the awards are consolidated.
  8. If any employees were eligible for one-off individual performance-related payments or bonuses over and above the general pay rise please state the range of awards (either as a percentage of their base salary or a cash amount as applicable) and the overall % of the paybill allocated to fund them.
  9. Please state the overall paybill increase as a result of the latest pay review expressed as a percentage of the paybill.
  10. Please state the name of the union/unions party to your main collective agreement covering pay and conditions if there are collective negotiations.
  11. Please provide the name and contact details of the person/s responsible for overseeing your organisation’s annual pay review.

Information released

We confirm that under s.1 of the FOIA, we hold the information relevant to your request and have answered in turn below.

Question 1

The pay award for the 2023/24 reporting year was implemented with effect from 1 April 2023. 

Question 2

Not applicable.

Question 3

All eligible ONR staff at Bands 1 to 6 will be covered by this pay award. This includes all employees with more than 3 month's service prior to the implementation date of 1 April 2023 (i.e., joined ONR on or before 1 January 2023), and who are not under capability (poor performance) procedures.

Question 4

There were 632 employees eligible for the 2023/24 pay award.  

Question 5

We do have collective bargaining arrangements with our joint Trade Unions.

Question 6

The pay award afforded a 5% consolidated increase to all staff, but for those whereby the 5% resulted in an annual increase of less than £1,200, a £1,200 guaranteed underpin was applied. An increase to standard non-regulatory pay ranges (ranging from £200-£400) and the additional commitment to the £1,500 cost of living payment will result in the pay offer elements of the package equating to costs of over 8% and will enable some staff, particularly those on lower salary bands, to receive pay increases during the year that are equivalent to 10% and above.

Question 7

The pay awards are consolidated. The range of % increases were 5% to 10% (please see explanation above in Question 6).

A percentage of 5.2% of the pay bill was allocated for the 5% consolidated increase and increase to non-regulatory pay ranges. 7% of the pay bill was allocated to also include the £1,500 cost of living payment.

Question 8

Staff are eligible for a sustained contribution award of either £250, £500 or £750 with a maximum of 2 awards per year for any individual. A percentage of 0.5% of the estimated ONR pay bill was allocated to fund these awards.

Question 9

A percentage of 5.2% of the pay bill was allocated for the 5% consolidated increase and increase to non-regulatory pay ranges and 7% of the pay bill was allocated to also include the £1,500 cost of living payment.

Question 10

  • PCS; and,
  • Prospect.

Question 11

The person responsible for overseeing ONR’s annual pay review is David Caton (HR Director).

Exemptions applied

N/A

PIT (Public Interest Test) if applicable

N/A