HC-One is proud to announce that it is investing over £39 million in colleague pay this year.
This investment will mean over 80% of colleagues will, from 1st April 2024, move immediately to be at or above the new Real Living Wage rates, with all colleagues able to earn at or above the Real Living Wage after two years of service. The investment also means that care colleagues will receive a pay award averaging 9%, which is once again ahead of the public and private sector’s averages, and, for the vast majority of colleagues, outstrips inflation.
Today’s announcement is the latest in a raft of significant investments that HC-One has made in its workforce. Over the last three years, HC-One has invested substantially in colleague pay in recognition of the valuable role they play in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our society and making a real difference to residents’ lives.
This new investment builds on the £32.5 million that HC-One invested in colleague pay in 2023, as well as its wider investment in reward, benefits, colleague wellbeing and development, including: enhancing maternity, paternity and adoption leave; providing a new benefits platform including leading discounts; wide ranging learning and development programmes; a new Flex Force initiative that that normalises and brings flexible working to social care; providing access to Wagestream (one of the UK’s leading financial wellbeing services) along with AXA Health ‘Be Supported’ 24/7 counselling helpline and Aviva Digital GP service for all.
HC-One believes care is a rewarding career choice. HC-One has seen a record number of applications over the last two years, combined with substantially reduced turnover, and is committed to investing in colleagues, and to help change the perception of working in the care sector. Attracting, developing, and retaining the best colleagues in the sector has a hugely positive impact on the quality and continuity of care provided to residents, as HC-One supports them to lead their best lives.
From 1
st April, HC-One is also introducing company sick pay entitlement for all colleagues. Having listened to feedback from colleagues, HC-One is going further than the standard statutory sick pay (SSP) scheme that does not kick in until after 3 days of absence. Instead, HC-One colleagues will be able to receive sick pay from day one of any absence, for up to three occasions per year. Colleagues will be paid at the government-set SSP rate.
This offer has been made in consultation with the GMB, the recognised union for HC-One’s care colleagues, and subsequently accepted by GMB members.
James Tugendhat, Chief Executive Officer at HC-One, said:
“I am delighted that we are announcing another substantial investment in colleague pay and are pleased to be making a positive step forward on sick pay.
“Our colleagues at HC-One make up the biggest health and care workforce outside the NHS and are vital to how we deliver care. We would not be able to do what we do without them, and it’s incredibly important to us that we do everything that we can to reward them for the crucial work they do.
“We’ve been encouraged to see a significant improvement in our colleague retention rates, which have been 5% ahead of the sector average and is a testament to the impact that our investment in pay, reward and learning & development is having. Our residents will also be seeing the benefit of this through consistency of teams, and developing meaningful relationships with the colleagues who support them.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact of today’s announcement as we continue to support those in our care to lead their best live and strive to be the first choice for families, colleagues, and commissioners in the communities we serve.
“We are also continuing to engage with our local authority and NHS partners, who fund the majority of the residents we support, to secure fee uplifts that will enable us to go even further on colleague pay.”