We noted a dramatic decrease in the number of serving voters opting for the ‘remuneration package’ in comparison to the responses we have received to this particular question in previous years. Our last two annual reports indicate that this option (previously entitled ‘pay/pensions’) appeared as one of the ‘top 3’ responses but this year it attracted the fewest number of votes.
We can only surmise that this change of heart is due in some respects to the impact of the pay freeze and the review of the allowances package. For the first time, we were asked to include the option of ‘I don’t enjoy RAF Life’ as a result of feedback from last year’s evidence gathering activities. Perhaps not surprisingly, given recent announcements regarding redundancy, increased operational tempo and the aforementioned pay concerns, 12% of our voters opted for this.
We also asked our non-serving audiences to tell us what they enjoyed about RAF life. Whilst the top vote was ‘secure employment for my partner’
the next highest response was ‘I don’t enjoy RAF life’, which mirrors the serving family members’ responses.
When asked whether families would consider a permanent overseas assignment, in light of the SDSR and Allowances Review, a quarter responded that they were less motivated to apply. This supports evidence received from families on overseas postings, who have complained bitterly about the changes to the Local Overseas Allowance (LOA) and loss of School Children’s/University students’ Visits, announced earlier this year.
Many commented that they had made an informed decision to take up the posting, based upon their pay and allowances package, accepting that the non- serving spouse/partner would probably be unable to find paid employment whilst they were overseas. They felt that the MoD had ‘moved the goalposts’ while they were mid-tour and some felt that they could no longer afford to stay in an accompanied overseas post.
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