Nurses forced into lower pay bands after requesting flexible hours
Posted 16 April 2024 - 14:30
RCN chief says that effectively demoting staff to lower pay bands after requesting flexible hours is ‘shameful’ as nurses share experiences on social media
Nurses requesting flexible working are being forced into lower pay bands by employers who refuse to accommodate flexi-hours.
Calling out the practice on social media, the RCN’s general secretary Pat Cullen branded it ‘shameful’ and vowed to get the trade union’s lawyers to review the issue.
Nurses share experiences of being demoted after requesting flexi-hours to accommodate family
It followed an X thread where dozens of nurses shared their experiences of being effectively demoted after requesting different working hours, despite new laws from this month to allow employees more flexible working rights.
The tweet, started by London South Bank University’s workforce chair Alison Leary, exposed the ‘silent problem’ in the NHS where nursing professionals are having to choose between career progression and workable hours to accommodate their family lives.
‘It has to stop,’ said Professor Leary. ‘Nurses are told time and time again that you can’t do fewer hours as a band 6 or a band 7. Or there isn’t enough service provision.
‘They are then offered a band 5 role say, and they have to leave their job to take up another role in order to go part time. Or they move to the bank or agency.
‘It’s a penalty for having children, it’s a penalty for being a carer. But it’s heartening to hear that the RCN might take it up.’
One nurse working at band 8a revealed to the Nursing Standard that she was forced to take a role at band 6 when she returned from maternity leave as her flexible working request to accommodate her new childcare needs was refused.
Nurse left profession after trust refused weekend work shifts to manage care of her autistic child
Another band 6 emergency department nurse called Rebecca said she left the nursing profession completely after her trust would not allow her to work weekend shifts to manage her autistic daughter's care needs.
She said: ‘When I returned from maternity leave I was told that the matron would only allow band 6 nurses to work a minimum of 30 hours per week to retain their band, and I would have to drop down to a band 5. I tried to fight my case, but in the end I had to accept their terms.
‘I qualified as a nurse in 2009 and felt very disappointed that a profession that is a majority female employer lacked compassion and care for its employees.’
Earlier this month a charge nurse working in NHS Scotland won a £22,000 pay out at an employment tribunal after employers refused a request to let her work night shifts to alleviate her Crohn’s disease symptoms.
Health unions launch #TalkAboutFlex campaign to promote flexible working rights
The revelations come as the RCN launched the #TalkAboutFlex campaign alongside Unison and other health sector unions and royal colleges, to promote positive action on flexible working rights.
RCN national officer Gill Morgan urged others to talk to their union if they are in this position. She added: ‘This is a silent massive problem in the NHS. Telling someone they can only be a certain band if they work part-time is absolute nonsense.
‘There are pockets of the NHS where flexible hours are working – it can be done.’
NHS England has been approached for comment.
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