AIBU to think a potential 2% pay rise for the NHS staff is ridiculous?

[Sunflowers68]

NHS England is cautioning against giving employees raises of more than 2%. is A band 2 salary is now only 10p above minimum wage due to the recent increase in the minimum wage. Surely, a 2% increase is insufficient for a job this challenging? If you are still working in the NHS, can you share your reasons why?

What kind of pension are you given with a band 2 salary?

I agree it’s insulting, when inflation is so much higher and has been for years.

You’ll get people griping on how they haven’t had a pay rise etc etc, always a race to the bottom on threads like this.

I work for the NHS. I work there because I enjoy my job and the hours suit me.

I could get paid higher if I went back to private care but in my line of work, that would likely be on an inpatient ward, and I feel so burnt out from that, whilst the money is better, it just doesnt feel worth it for me.

What sort of jobs are band 2? Are they in the NHS pension scheme too?

I've been a nurse 22 years. A fews ago I became frustrated with everything going on, I left and worked in the private sector for around 4 years. 2 years ago I returned to the NHS when overnight the director of the company sold the business and we were told the service we would now be providing was completing different to the previous one. I hated the insecurity of the private sector, the poor sick pay, low annual leave allowance and terrible pension scheme.
I took a slight pay cut and returned to the NHS and am glad I did. I love my current job. Feel secure and think I am reasonably paid for what I do.

Band 2 jobs are ward clerks, HCA’s, receptionists and health records clerks and they are all eligible to join the pension scheme

A 2% increase for NHS staff is unfair, and is a pay cut in real terms.

To the PP asking, I'm not sure which jobs are B2 but I believe that phlebotomists are, and yes, B2 staff are also eligible to be in the pension scheme.

I am still officially on Band 1. I didn't want the extra duties of Band 2.

The hours are good, the job is easy and the location is good too. Absolutely useless managers but I am 3 years off retirement and I have already quietly quit.

Band 2 jobs aren't difficult but can be stressful imo

A lot of receptionists etc are on relatively low pay considering the knowledge and responsibilities they have. I moved jobs recently when I realised what a mug I was, and got more pay for an easier receptionist job, and one where I not stressing in the evening that someone hadn’t got their medicines etc.

(and working in a go surgery, I could join the pension scheme, )

The NHS has budgeted for 2% however the caution is that government needs to support and fund any further rise above 2%.

In its submission to the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB), the organisation has warned that an unaffordable pay rise could lead to service cuts unless it is fully funded by the Government.
The NHS financial statement agreed by the treasury in 2021 planned for just a 2% pay increase in the 2024/25 financial year.
This figure is now significantly below the rate of inflation.
The document reads; “Pay awards that are higher than the levels contained in the funding settlement, if not supported by additional funding from government, will put further pressure on the NHS budget given the existing funding pressures.
“This could impact on staffing numbers and the ability to deliver planned activity or service improvements.”

They can be physically exhausting though. Porters for example

Yes you are in the pension scheme on a band 2.

Agree band 2 jobs can be both physically and mentally tiring at times. They tend to be public facing with no wfh opportunities.

This grade and band is entry grade I believe. You have to consider what other jobs you might do if you are not happy with the salary and conditions. Do you think you'd ever get a job with a pension as high as NHS elsewhere?

The negotiations only started in December - late again. Should have been paid in April. Yet again no sign of any progress. Industrial action costs the NHS billions, which could/should be invested in staff instead. Government want yet another season of disputes. They gave MPs 5.5% with no hassle.

I don’t work for this NHS. For this reason, I asked people to explain why they continue to work for the NHS in spite of pay reductions. yes, the pension is a great perk. However, unlike other bands, band 2 does not have experience-based salary rises, and many employees work for the band their entire careers. When you can have less stress working at Asda for money, it is not acceptable to work for 10p more than minimum wage.

Problem is a pension for most is far in the future and food and housing costs are here and now. Band 2, 3, 4 are often entry level for people hoping to progress and work their way up through the ranks, gain practical on the job skills. We need to attract quality and committed staff into these roles.

It's not just NHS.

The government are trying to curb inflation by giving all their employees tiny pay rises, imo.

Ive had 1%. DH (bearing in mind no payrises for the past few years) has got a whopping 0.13%.

Maybe not NHS so much, but moving onto the private sector is looking increasingly attractive.

Surely this is a just a reflection of the difficult financial position the country is in🤷‍♀️

My DH is in the NHS. It’s the most well paid and flexible job available to him in his sector. He’s happy in his job and has worked elsewhere before.

@BuddingPeonies yeah I work for a public body and it's just been announced our pay rise this year is going to be 2%. Doesn't even touch the sides of inflation.

Sorry to hear this - everyone is worthy of better. The difference in wage between skilled and unskilled workers seems to be narrowing for all sectors, which is ridiculous.

2% is another paycut.

When i finished uni 15 years ago my current job was paid 4x minimum wage, it is now paid 2.5x minimum wage. My head says the headline salary sounds good, but it does not go as far as i think it should.

It makes me even more tempted to move to Scotland where the same NHS job as mine is paid over eight thousand pounds more a year.

Where did you get 10p above minimum wage from? Minimum wage is £11.44 per hour, NHS band 2 is £11.45 per hour. It is absolutely ridiculous for what they do.