12th June 2009
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney has urged public sector chiefs to waive their bonus payments for the current year.
They have also been told that bonuses paid would only be for ‘demonstrably exceptional performance’.
Swinney’s decision to clamp down on the bonus payments of chief executives was disclosed as the Scottish Government issued its 2009/10 public sector pay policy for senior appointments.
Pay awards for chief executives will be set at 1.5% – the same as for staff at quangos.
Announcing the policy, Swinney highlighted the ‘tough criteria’ that must be met to justify the payment of a bonus.
Chairs of the public bodies have been asked to invite chief executives ‘to consider waiving some or all of any bonuses they may be due in 2009/10 on a voluntary basis’.
Any money saved would remain within the organisation for addressing other aims.
Swinney said that merely achieving day-to-day objectives would not be enough to achieve a bonus. Only exceeding them would suffice
