FCDO staff vote overwhelmingly against performance-based pay

The new pay system means that the basic cost of living increase, mandated by the government’s pay remit, will only be paid in full to staff marked as higher performers. The FCDO is alone in insisting on a differentiation which is based on the 2024 to 2025 performance markings, effectively changing performance expectations retrospectively.

In the civil service there have been failed attempts in the past to make the annual pay rise subject to performance markings, but the inability of employers to equality-proof their appraisal systems meant staff could have no confidence that pay awards were fair. As a result, performance related pay is mainly limited to smaller non-consolidated bonuses.

At a recent FCDO members' meeting, PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote explained:  “In 2014 PCS had a successful campaign to remove performance pay across government because we proved that it was discriminatory. We managed to break the link with performance so it is beyond belief that FCDO are trying to bring it back now - the only government department to do so. Performance related pay impacts members pensions and it divides staff. Our members work collaboratively to deliver public services and will unite to ensure fairness.”

The contentious and discriminatory FCDO award has been made without any transparency over equality analysis of the FCDO appraisal system which is particularly shocking because it is based, not on incentives as claimed, but effectively on fining a significant number of staff whose performance is still defined as being fully satisfactory. The equality analysis is information which should be shared with the trade unions without any need to use the Freedom of Information Act.

PCS reps will meet this week to decide next steps based on the ballot result and will update members shortly.