London Overground Rail Operations enhances staff pay during the Olympics

London Overground Rail Operations is enhancing its rate of pay by 25% for employees that work shifts during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The deal will see 85% (almost 1,000) of its staff, including front-line station, conductor, train care, fleet maintenance and revenue staff, see a pay increase of time and a quarter.†

The remaining population, made up of managers and support staff from HR, finance, IT and safety, will receive a lump-sum £250 for the Olympics and a lump-sum £250 for the Paralympics.

Speaking exclusively to Employee Benefits, Darren Hockaday, human resources director at London Overground Rail Operations, said: “In effect, we are incentivising employees not to take leave. For the Olympic and Paralympic Games, for every shift they work and complete, staff will get time and a quarter."

Employees will also have the opportunity for flexible working. Hockaday added: "Employees will be working longer and later hours to accommodate the later train service. Their shifts will be subject to short-notice changes, but there is a lot of flexibility there."

Bob Crow, general secretary at the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), the union that negotiated the deal, added: “This deal recognises the value placed on transport workers in delivering an effective Olympics and is a good deal for RMT members, the travelling public and Olympic visitors alike. It is a common sense approach in planning ahead for the games.”