Scottish redeployment pools cost taxpayers at least £27m a year
Around 800 Scottish public sector workers are being paid despite having no fixed role, costing taxpayers at least £27 million a year. The figures have prompted calls for an investigation into how the practice is managed and whether public money is being used effectively.
Workers are held in redeployment pools while they wait for another post, often doing temporary or less senior duties. At least 255 have been without a fixed role for over a year and 49 for five years or more; one NHS Highland employee has reportedly been in this position for 17 years. The article links the practice to Scotland’s ban on compulsory redundancies, introduced in 2007, and notes that the total cost may be higher because some organisations did not disclose salaries.
In short
- About 800 workers lack fixed roles but remain on the public payroll.
- Their salaries cost at least £27 million a year.
- Calls have been made for a public spending watchdog investigation.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Redeployment pools can honour Scotland’s commitment to avoid compulsory redundancies while retaining experienced staff whose skills may be needed elsewhere. Paying people during a transition can support fair treatment and give public bodies time to find suitable roles, rather than losing expertise and incurring redundancy and recruitment costs.
The case against
Keeping workers on the payroll for years without fixed roles raises legitimate questions about value for money and whether redeployment is being managed effectively. Long delays may also leave staff without meaningful work, while clearer oversight and timely decisions could better serve both taxpayers and employees.
Paranormal Weird & Viral World
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “£27m for ‘ghost workers’ in Scottish public sector”.