Reports that the NHS are braced for a large number of equal pay claims, similar to the local government sector can bring little joy for most people (other than those claiming, of course).
It is disappointing to see that issue has been so widespread and the only benefit in doing so has been to wrongly provide society with a cost benefit which is now going to be corrected. Was is really worth it?
What is interesting and depressing is to find the number of red-spots (those that are overpaid for their job role) and the consequences for all including the unions who may not have realised that some of the members would actually suffer in this whole episode.
In view of this, given that Investors in People has been a matter of policy push to many public sector organisations, one could ask the question regarding that decision and also question the very meaning of Investors in People accreditation where equal pay policies have not been in force.
Some of you may remember our evaluative research on IiP in 2006 (still available) which asked some serious questions. It also garnered some reaction.
In the event that the tax payer (you and me) will inevitably have to pay for the equal claims to be made (or job losses may well be incurred) one could ask a fair question in that the tax-payers money which funds IiP could have been better spent?
