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DRAFT -  Fifth Guiding Principle – Voluntary Severance Arrangements

(Revised draft under consideration following consultation)

Context

This Guiding Principle has not yet been finalised but deals with issues of voluntary severance (Redundancy).

Guiding Principle

While noting the Secretary of State’s commitment to make every possible effort to avoid redundancies, the Commission recognises that when the review of Public Administration is fully implemented, there is expected to be an overall requirement for fewer staff than are currently employed in the RPA Affected Group.  The Commission recommends that a core aspect of how Government manage this position should be through the use of voluntary severance arrangements where there is a justifiable need to reduce staff numbers and a willingness amongst staff to participate in such schemes.  The Commission further recommends that Government state that there should be no compulsory redundancy in the RPA Affected Group, at least until all the new organisations envisaged as coming into being in the Secretary of State’s announcements of 22 November 2006 have been established.

Associated Recommendations

The Commission recommends that:

  • Immediate consideration be given to the organisational structure and staffing requirements in each of the new organisations.
  • Where justified, voluntary severance arrangements, should be applied within each sector well in advance of the appointed date of the transfer of staff.  In compliance with statutory obligations such arrangements should not necessarily be restricted to the RPA Affected Group.
  • To ensure consistency in the treatment of staff, the terms of a single Voluntary Severance Scheme should be applied throughout the implementation of RPA.  As a minimum the scheme should reflect the benefits payable in a compulsory redundancy situation.
  • Government should ensure that appropriate funding is available to facilitate voluntary severance arrangements.
  • Government should ensure that staff affected by the application of voluntary severance arrangements are provided with high quality support on matters such as careers advice, skills analysis, training for new careers, financial planning etc.

Further Guidance/Information

The main issues arising from this Guiding Principle relate to Voluntary Redundancy/Severance and further information can be obtained from the following links: