Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents think the two-year public sector pay freeze for staff with a salary of more than £21,000 will encourage movement towards the private sector, says a survey from the Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP).
The research also found nearly half (46%) of respondents feel the pay freeze, which was announced in June’s emergency Budget, will stall recruitment of vital posts in the public sector.
More than a third (38%) think it will impact the already agreed future pay rises and a quarter (26%) feel it will deter those on lower pay grades from applying for a promotion.
Karen Thomson, associate director of policy, research, and strategic visibility at the IPP, said: “The IPP Policy and Research team has provided its research findings to the chief secretary to the Treasury, Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP, and has requested that our members’ views be considered in the review of the implementation of the public sector pay freeze later this year.
“The survey results highlight the negative impact that the pay freeze will have on the sector, especially in terms of employment engagement as well as attracting and retaining high quality employees.
“Further clarification on aspects of the legislation is also needed before the pay freeze is imposed from 2011–2012, such as the issue of whether part-time workers on a salary of less than £21,000 a year will also have their pay frozen if their equivalent full-time salary is more than the £21,000 limit.”
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