Post by carl1960 on Apr 18, 2012 6:30:37 GMT
BBC spends £277m on pay-offs for staff as 20 executives walk away with £8m between them
The BBC has paid out £277million in redundancy to almost 6,000 staff in the past seven years.
More than £8million was spent on the top 20 deals for those whose jobs were cut between March 2005 and February this year. Overall, the average pay-out was £46,200.
The highest individual payment was £949,000 – to former deputy director-general Mark Byford as compensation for loss of office.
But there are many other significant six-figure deals, including one for £600,000 and four more above £400,000.
There were a dozen between £300,000 and £400,000. One of these went to marketing chief Sharon Baylay, who received £392,000.
Despite the 5,992 departure pay-outs, it is understood there are now only 3,369 fewer BBC employees than in 2005.
This is because over the seven-year period concerned, the BBC created many new roles which needed filling in areas such as its iPlayer service and BBC Persia.
The true cost of the deals – for staff who lost their jobs as a result of compulsory or voluntary redundancy – may be much higher because the figures do not include all payments made in lieu of unused leave.
Payoff: Mark Byford (right) pictured outside the BBC's Television Centre shortly after he accepted a huge redundancy package in October 2010. Newsnight's Paul Mason (left) confronts him during a strike against pension cuts announced under Mr Byford
Payoff: Mark Byford (right) pictured shortly after he accepted a huge redundancy package in October 2010. Newsnight's Paul Mason (left) confronts him during a strike against BBC pension cuts
The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, did not provide the names of staff or their job titles but simply gave the top 20 payments made during the period. The biggest pay-out, £949,000, matched the figure reported in the 2010/11 annual report given for Mr Byford’s departure.
More than £8million was spent on the top 20 deals for those whose jobs were cut between March 2005 and February this year. Overall, the average pay-out was £46,200.
The highest individual payment was £949,000 – to former deputy director-general Mark Byford as compensation for loss of office.
But there are many other significant six-figure deals, including one for £600,000 and four more above £400,000.
There were a dozen between £300,000 and £400,000. One of these went to marketing chief Sharon Baylay, who received £392,000.
Despite the 5,992 departure pay-outs, it is understood there are now only 3,369 fewer BBC employees than in 2005.
This is because over the seven-year period concerned, the BBC created many new roles which needed filling in areas such as its iPlayer service and BBC Persia.
The true cost of the deals – for staff who lost their jobs as a result of compulsory or voluntary redundancy – may be much higher because the figures do not include all payments made in lieu of unused leave.
Payoff: Mark Byford (right) pictured outside the BBC's Television Centre shortly after he accepted a huge redundancy package in October 2010. Newsnight's Paul Mason (left) confronts him during a strike against pension cuts announced under Mr Byford
Payoff: Mark Byford (right) pictured shortly after he accepted a huge redundancy package in October 2010. Newsnight's Paul Mason (left) confronts him during a strike against BBC pension cuts
The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, did not provide the names of staff or their job titles but simply gave the top 20 payments made during the period. The biggest pay-out, £949,000, matched the figure reported in the 2010/11 annual report given for Mr Byford’s departure.