Publish date: 27 October 2023

The new process for bank workers requesting payment for annual leave changed on 1 October 2023. The change is in line with UK employment regulations and aims to ensure fairness and accuracy in how your pay is determined for periods of annual leave. 
The changes have been in place for three weeks, and it is evident the system is not working as it should be. The situation has been escalated to payroll and the National ESR team. 

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix as the issues are specifically around the calculation of annual leave and how some colleagues are receiving less pay than expected, or have been previously paid for periods of annual leave.

Additionally, we know colleagues are inputting leave into ESR, as per process, but this is not pulling through consistently for their pay.

A decision has been made in the interim to revert to the process previously used. Additionally, it has been confirmed that we will be using one process for all bank colleagues claiming annual leave which will mean they are paid 12.07% for every hour worked.  For Mid Mersey colleagues this will be a change, but it means leave can be accrued and taken when wanted as opposed to paid each month. To request leave to be paid, please email: bankannualleave@merseycare.nhs.uk.

We appreciate this is not ideal but do feel it is the right decision.  We are working closely with payroll an the ESR National team to undertake more checks and ensure all scenarios are tested. Once the system is corrected and changes are confirmed, in line with the legislation we will implement this process again and this will then allow for any arrears dated back to October 2019, as previously agreed to be processed. 

This will take time to calculate and we will therefore keep you up to date on arrears calculations and the potential timeline for these to be paid.

Payroll are also reviewing leave paid in the current process for colleagues who have received less than was expected and will advise us on this to ensure payments are corrected.

Many thanks for your patience and understanding with this.