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Councils asked to fund backpay for recent leavers following deal on £1,925 boost

Staff earning above pay limit covered by deal also expected to get £1,925 increase, say UNISON and LGA, with part-timers given pro-rated rise

By on November 4, 2022 in Social work leaders, Workforce
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Photo: md3d/Fotolia

Councils have been asked to fund backpay for staff who have recently left their roles, following this year’s annual pay settlement for social workers and other local authority workers.

The Local Government Association said it recommended that councils provide former staff with backpay covering the period from 1 April up to their last day of employment, should ex-employees approach them.

This week, unions agreed to employers’ offer of a £1,925 rise for 2022-23, backdated to April, which will be pro-rated for part-time staff.

The deal applies to councils covered by the National Joint Council for local government services, in relation to employees earning up to £47,665 a year currently, for whom it amounts to a 4.04% increase. A separate deal, also worth £1,925, has been reached for chief officers in local authorities, including directors, assistant or deputy directors and heads of service.

For those earning above £47,665 but who are not covered by the chief officers’ deal, local arrangements apply. But UNISON and the LGA said it expected those staff – who include many team and service managers and principal social workers in children’s and adults’ services – would receive a £1,925 boost.

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14 Responses to Councils asked to fund backpay for recent leavers following deal on £1,925 boost

  1. Tracie Danells-Mayes November 7, 2022 at 12:01 pm #

    Will we get the back dated pay in the Nov pay packet?

    • Matthew November 7, 2022 at 1:44 pm #

      We’ve been advised ours will be in December’s

  2. Vix November 7, 2022 at 12:09 pm #

    Just to clarify, this article (and previous ones) do not relate to ALL social workers in local authorities. This only relates to those LAs signed up to NJC and national pay and conditions, many LAs are not part of this and are therefore negotiating pay deals locally. In those LAs please support your local union activists doing their best on your behalf.

    • Larisa November 18, 2022 at 5:07 pm #

      Hi Vix- how can I find out if my council is signed up to NJC?

  3. Enid November 7, 2022 at 7:21 pm #

    I have approached my previous council where I have worked until 2nd October for backpay which like anyone else I am entitled to and I was advised they will only backpay workers who are employees of the council until 1 November. I think this is a discriminatory action the council is taking and I don’t understand why Unions are willing to stand up for workers like myself who feel let down by the council.

    • John Simpson November 8, 2022 at 12:54 pm #

      Start an employment tribunal claim as see how quickly they pay you!

      • Andrea November 10, 2022 at 11:24 am #

        On what grounds would you establish discrimination in an ET if the employer has a cut off point for contractual obligations? This is like asking for an insurance payment after you have stopped paying the premium.

        • Millie November 14, 2022 at 12:34 pm #

          I have also been advised today that I am not entitled as I left in July. I’m not sure that is fair as I worked from April to the end of July when I retired, why should I miss out? I am not aware of a cut off date so surely there should be some form of appeal?

    • Sandra November 23, 2022 at 5:11 pm #

      Thus is not what is expected by councils. The governing body says to pay those who request it. Appeal.

  4. Susan November 16, 2022 at 7:23 pm #

    I retired on 30 September so worked 6 months plus through the pandemic. Told I will not get my back pay this cannot be right.

    This must be discriminatory and just not right. The wage increase was backdated to April. The Unions must have negotiated back pay for recent retirement employees

  5. Carolanne November 22, 2022 at 5:51 pm #

    Agree

    I have received advice that this is unlawful under some 1996 Act, as it is withholding payment of salary which has been agreed to be backdated to April and is due to you for the period from April to date of leaving.
    As such you can raise a grievance and challenge your council.
    If they don’t pay, you can escalate to first level conciliation at a Tribunal which will not cost you.
    The Employer’s Association and NJC are recommending councils give back pay to leavers who request it.

  6. Hollie November 28, 2022 at 8:52 pm #

    I have been on maternity leave from October 2021 until September 2022. Should I receive the full back pay from the increase from April? My pay slip has the backpay on but then it has been deducted as abs offset.

    • Sarah November 30, 2022 at 10:39 pm #

      Hi Holly – I was on maternity from September 21 until August 22 and have only been paid 3 months worth of the back pay. Apparently as I was ‘absent’ until august I don’t get the first 5 months. Commenting to receive any replies you might get. Thanks

  7. Kelly November 29, 2022 at 7:43 pm #

    I left my role in an academy trust on 30/10/22 and they are refusing to pay my backpay stating it is trust policy not to pay. Not sure where to go with this next.