Public sector pay policy 2020 to 2021

Staff Pay Remits

Pay Metrics

The following sets out details of each of the key pay metrics which apply in 2020-21.

Support for Lower Paid Staff

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of supporting lower paid staff within the public sector. The 2020-21 pay policy continues to require employers to pay the real Living Wage and provides a guaranteed cash underpin of £750 for all staff who earn £25,000 or less.

Pay Increases and Thresholds

The 2020-21 pay policy will remove the £36,500 pay threshold and provide a guaranteed minimum 3 per cent pay increase for public sector workers who earn up to £80,000. The increase for those earning £80,000 or more will be limited to £2,000.

Progression

Nothing in this pay policy is intended to interfere with pay progression arrangements for staff in the pay remit, or to constrain discussions between employers and staff and / or their representatives on this issue. Decisions taken on pay progression should be based on business needs, maintaining headcount and affordability.

Wellbeing

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting wellbeing in the workplace and a healthy work-life balance.

Additional Flexibility

Public bodies will be able to use paybill savings of up to 0.5 per cent of baseline salaries, beyond those limits set out above to consider affordable and sustainable changes to their existing pay and grading structures to address evidenced equality issues.

Non-consolidated Performance Related Pay

All access to non-consolidated pots for payments linked to performance (bonuses) continues to be suspended for 2020-21.