MONEY
comparison with many civilian organisations. Negative comment: Many report that, whilst they do manage to get most of their leave entitlements, it is often not at their preferred time of year due to operational commitments. Where partners are also working, coordinating leave plans is very difficult, especially if children’s school holidays are also a factor.
The impact of
the 2012 Olympics and Jubilee events on family leave have drawn adverse comments.
Impact of the Job – Separation from Home & Family
Negative comment: RAF families perceive that separation is increasing, with some trades routinely breeching the ‘harmony guidelines’. Separation is exacerbated when you are also separated from family and friends because you have opted to ‘follow the flag’. Others report excessive separation caused by the decision to commute, or the lack of colocation for co- serving couples.
Turbulence
Negative comment: Most families feel that turbulence is still a major negative factor. The closure of 2 main bases as a result of the SDSR will increase turbulence for some in the short term. The need to move the family at frequent intervals has huge repercussions – housing, education, healthcare, partner’s careers, special needs, etc. Most partners cannot pursue a sustained career path of their own and this impacts on earning capacity and ability to afford housing, etc. Turbulence also means the partner can rarely build up his/her own pension entitlements. Many respondents highlighted the impact of postings on their ability to enter the housing market, something many aspire to, particularly in light of rising SFA charges.
Social Aspects of the Job – Divorce and Family
Negative comment: Although comparative divorce/separation rates are not available, most RAF families perceive that the level of relationship breakdown is higher than in the civilian world. They believe that it is often too easy for couples to marry, perhaps to gain that first home and access to an allowances package that benefits the married over the single. It is then relatively easy for the uniformed member to move out- he/she can simply return to the Mess or Barrack Block, leaving the family to be evicted from quarters. Reasons for breakdown range from: too much separation, posting to the wrong part of the country, impact on partner’s career aspirations, or any number of relationship issues that are exacerbated when the uniformed member is away from home too much.
www.raf-ff.org.uk Envoy Summer 2012 31
Stress at Work Negative comment: Many report that their partners are very stressed at work because they are either deploying frequently to areas of known danger and risk, or they are covering the duties of those who have deployed. Fears or confirmation of redundancy have added a new level of stress to many families.
Support to Personnel & Families Positive comment: Increased support from Community Support staffs has been very welcome over recent years. The Operational Welfare Package is well received and efforts to enhance deployment support to families,
Social Aspects of the Job – Health and Education Positive comment: Access to good quality primary medical and dental facilities for serving personnel are appreciated but serve to highlight the lack of access for most family members – see negative comments. Negative comment: RAF families still aspire to access the RAF medical facilities they used to enjoy. Many families are commuting long distances to old locations to maintain continuity of dental care. As for education, many families report difficulties in accessing their preferred school and have to go through the stress of the appeals process. There has been a notable increase in Continuity fo Education Allowance (CEA) casework, with some families declared stable and losing entitlement having to remove children from the boarding environment. Others face significant recoveries (up to £250k) when previously authorised entitlements have been retrospectively withdrawn.
where delivered well, make a positive impact. The increased training of CNOs and VOs is also a good step forward. Negative comment: Welfare support ‘beyond the wire’ is less well delivered and there is a gap in provision between those deploying as Formed Units and those going as Individual Augmentees. Families of deployed Reservists are also a particularly difficult group to reach.
Travel to Work Positive comment: Families acknowledge that an entitlement to any form of Home-to- Duty travel is rare and, for those for whom the current allowances offer adequate recompense, they are satisfied that travel costs are appropriate. Negative comment: With the reduction in Home To Duty allowances as a result of the Allowances Review (albeit not as bad as originally proposed), many reported that they were being housed in quarters miles away from their work base and the allowances no longer covered the costs involved. There is limited recognition that the need to have a second car is often predicated on where the RAF can provide housing – partners also need to be able to travel to and from work or to local facilities.
The Federation is running an online survey during Jun 12 entitled ‘Pay, Pensions and Other Stuff’. It aims to capture evidence to inform the AFPRB later this year. Please ensure your views are represented by completing this survey, available via the RAF FF website. If you are serving at RAF Lossiemouth or Leuchars, watch out for our workshops at the end of Jun!
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