New job evaluation process to be introduced at Sheffield City Council

A new job evaluation process is to be introduced for all Sheffield City Council employees.  

Equal pay concerns around the Council’s current job evaluation scheme were raised by the GMB Union in Autumn 2023.    

Since then, a comprehensive, independent, external review has been undertaken to look into the Council’s scheme, its processes and its data, and to identify where changes should be made.   

The Council has been working jointly and proactively with the GMB, Unison and Unite unions to confirm a new process for the future.  

A job evaluation scheme is the process used to assess a role’s level and grade within an organisation’s structure. Large organisations across the country adopt such schemes, including local authorities. The scheme considers a range of factors, depending on the organisation and the processes they adopt, such as level of responsibility and the skills and experience required.  

Sheffield City Council currently uses the GLPC job evaluation scheme. The independent review found there were no issues with the GLPC scheme, which is used by organisations across the country to evaluate job roles. However, it identified that the way Sheffield City Council had implemented the scheme may have led to disparities in job evaluation.   

As a result of the independent review, a programme of work known as the Sheffield Role Review Programme, has been established to develop a new system and policy in partnership with trade unions.   

To ensure these potential disparities are addressed and make the process better for the future, the Council is taking a proactive and comprehensive approach by introducing a new job evaluation process, through the commonly used NJC scheme.   

Part of the new job evaluation process will require every role in the Council, including senior leaders and directors, to be reassessed to ensure every member of staff is graded appropriately.   

Employees have been informed about the new job evaluation process this week and will receive regular updates about the progress.  

Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said:

“Job evaluation and equal pay are complex areas, and we are taking this matter very seriously.   

“We’ve looked at this proactively and in depth and have worked positively with our union partners to come up with a solution that is fit for the future. We firmly believe in equity, and we can say with no hesitation that introducing a new job evaluation process is the right thing to do.”   

GMB, Unison and Unite said in a joint statement:

“The Council’s decision to introduce the Sheffield Role Review Programme is a welcome one. GMB, Unite and Unison have collectively been working in partnership with the Council to find a way forward and we have agreed to implement a new scheme. We will continue to hold the Council to account on equal pay and we are assured that they are listening to, and acting on, our concerns. Our priority is to ensure that there is a fair and equal scheme for employees in the future, and that anyone who has not been paid equally gets that rectified. We will continue to work with the Council to make sure that happens.”  

Claire Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, added:

“We are updating the job evaluation process in partnership with local trade unions. This will take some time, and we know there will be a period of uncertainty for employees.  

“We’ve taken confident steps to tackle this work. By taking action we are creating a clearer and more improved system for the organisation and our employees. Our priority is supporting them while this comprehensive evaluation takes place.”   

A report on this matter will be brought to the relevant Council Committee in due course.