On-air pay framework update
Over the past three years we have undertaken an extensive programme of reforms to create a simpler, more consistent and fairer BBC.
Published: 12 March 2019
We have made a number of significant changes, including overhauling our whole terms and conditions of employment and introducing the Career Path Framework, cutting the number of job titles from 5,000 to around 600, publishing the pay range for each job and showing thousands of staff how their pay compares to their colleagues. We’ve also carried out a series of progression reviews to ensure there are no barriers to people succeeding at the BBC irrespective of their background.
These are major reforms aimed at creating a modern and fair BBC and they have, rightly, been subject to a great deal of scrutiny both internally and externally.
The BBC initially engaged Naomi Ellenbogen QC to provide independent input and guidance on the proposed new job and pay framework for our most senior On-Air staff within News and News-related areas. However, the EHRC has today announced its work with the BBC which will include reviewing whether our reforms have fully corrected any historic issues.
Supporting this review and the NAO’s ongoing routine work around BBC pay will require considerable time and resource, which we will of course devote to them. However, there is the potential for significant overlap between these pieces of work and the review led by Ms Ellenbogen QC, which would not represent value for money or be feasible for the BBC to support, and we must prioritise this statutory work.
We have therefore decided to pause Ms Ellenbogen QC’s review, pending consideration of the EHRC’s conclusions. We are extremely grateful to her for her commitment and work to date.
BBC Press Office
