Staff
Bulletin
457
20th April 2012
Pay and Grading Update
A to B Promotions
Employees who have been put forward for promotion (accelerated advancement) from the
A to the B section of their band have been submitted to, reviewed and approved by
Corporate HR. The promotion information has now been sent to the Shared Services Centre
(SSC) and these increases will be paid in April salaries, backdated to the 1st January 2012.
Those being promoted to the B section of their bands can expect to receive a letter
confirming this from the Shared Services Centre by the end of April.
Arrangements are being finalised with the SSC for the ongoing process of managing
accelerated advancement as these can happen at any time of year following discussion
between the employee and line manager and a peer review sign off.
Special Award Scheme
Those employees who have been recommended for Special Awards (ASRs) have also been
reviewed and accepted by Corporate HR. These non-pensionable, lump-sum payments have
been sent through to SSC and will also be paid in the April payroll.
Pay Award 2012/13
As a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), each year the MRC has to gain approval from
the government to make changes to the basic pay arrangements of staff (the annual pay
remit). All increases to basic salaries, progression steps and increases to allowances need to
be approved through the annual pay remit (excluding promotions). The MRC's annual pay
award date is 1st April; however, the pay remit is not normally agreed by Government until
Autumn. Any pay increases due are backdated to the 1st April each year.
HM Treasury sets out the framework for seeking this approval and the overall parameters
for public sector pay through the Civil Service Pay Guidance. At the end of March, the
government released this for 2012-2013, which we will be expected to follow. MRC
Management and MRC Trade Unions are working together to draw up a robust, evidence
based proposal which will allow for the full implementation of the pay structure and allow us
to continue the work already achieved in providing fair pay for our staff.
We expect to be asked to submit our proposal to BIS and Treasury by the end of June
2012. It is not clear at present when we will receive a response from BIS and Treasury on
our proposals but, as in previous years, this has not happened until the Autumn. We will
continue to keep you updated as important information becomes available.
For further information please contact your local HR team.
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