Met Office’s Golden Goodbyes

By Paul Homewood

 

 

The UK Met Office have just released their Annual Report and Accounts for 2011/12. It appears that, in line with most other public sector bodies, they have had their funding from government frozen, remaining at £163 million, about 83% of total income.

It also seems that, in order to cut costs, they have had to kiss goodbye to a number of senior staff. In total 50 staff, out of a total of 1862, have left with compensation packages, (although only 4 were compulsory redundancies). Of these 50, however, 16 have left with compensation worth between £50,000 and £100,000. A further 8 have picked up between £100,000 and £150,000. The total cost of the exit packages for these 24 leavers would work out at about £2.2 million.

According to their Accounts, the median salary is £34,697, and the statutory redundancy entitlement in the UK for someone on this salary with, say, 10 years service would amount to £6450.

It is clear, then, that the compensation agreed is extremely generous, even by public sector standards.

Meanwhile Chief Exec, John Hirst, and Chief Scientist, Julia Slingo, continue to rake it in. Including the increase in their pension pots, the pair earned approximately £250,000 and £210,000 respectively last year.

Still, who cares? It is only taxpayer money.

 

 

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/r/6/AR_A2011-12.pdf