IOG recommends 2.5% pay rise

By Alistair February 5, 2018 10:16

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is recommending a 2.5 per cent increase in grounds’ staff’s national minimum salary bands for 2018.

The IOG also advises that this increase would, in real terms, equate to an increase of just 0.1 per cent when the projected Consumer Price Index (CPIH) is accounted for.

It adds that the increase would maintain a sustainable pay structure for all grounds’ staff, account for inflationary pressures, and ensure grounds’ staff pay is in line with overall market trends.

Based on independent, industry-wide research, the IOG recommendations also suggest a two per cent extension to the top of each pay band, to allow for greater professional development and to reward experience.

The IOG recommended national basic salary bands for 2018 are: grounds manager, £34,909 to £54,079; heads groundsperson, £29,773 to £40,863; deputy head groundsperson / sole charge, £24,358 to £31,088; groundsperson (skilled), £22,779 to £29,059; groundsperson, £18,250 to £23,281; junior groundsperson, £15,517 (age 17) or £12,886 (age 16). Bonuses, overtime and subsistence payments have not been included.

The IOG also recommends that employers ensure they meet their obligations in terms of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and ensure fair payment for overtime worked – by agreement about the balance between overtime pay, time off in lieu or flexible working.

Regional pay allowances continue to be incorporated into the salary bands and the IOG recommends that higher cost areas of the country should make salary awards at the upper levels of the bands.