Hard-working taxpayers are funding hundreds of Scottish public sector staff who have no permanent roles, as an SNP redundancy ban locks in millions of pounds in waste.
One NHS Highland employee has spent 17 years drawing a full salary and benefits despite their job no longer existing.
The health board refused to state what the worker had been paid or what tasks they carried out over the period. The case is part of a wider system across Scotland where around 800 public sector workers remain on the payroll without fixed roles.
A Sunday Times investigation revealed at least 49 staff members have received full pay for five years or more after their jobs became obsolete. A further 255 workers have lacked a fixed position for over a year.
Redundancy ban freezes public sector
The situation stems from a ban on compulsory redundancies in the Scottish public sector introduced by the SNP in 2007. Instead of being made redundant, displaced workers enter a redeployment pool while waiting for new roles, continuing to receive their original salaries and benefits.
While in the pool, staff are typically asked to perform ad-hoc or less senior duties. The arrangement proves particularly difficult to resolve for older staff on higher salaries with specialized roles.
At least 70 Scottish public bodies disclosed spending £2.3 million a month combined on salaries for workers awaiting redeployment.
Scotland’s public sector has become a gravy train for insiders.
Craig Hoy, Scottish Conservative finance spokesman
Auditor General probe demanded
Scottish Conservatives have demanded that the Auditor General for Scotland launch a formal investigation into the findings.
Craig Hoy, the party’s finance and local government spokesman, expressed outrage at the scale of public spending.
Some have been left languishing in zombie jobs for 17 years, a jaw-dropping indictment of a system completely out of control.
First Minister John Swinney faces growing pressure to abandon the policy as Scotland grapples with a £5 billion deficit. Opposition leaders warn that plans to streamline NHS boards cannot succeed while compulsory redundancies remain banned.
Health service hit by huge costs
Figures show NHS Scotland spends £1.4 million every month employing 315 workers without permanent positions. Information was withheld for an additional 185 displaced health staff.
Under official NHS Scotland rules, workers whose posts are cut due to organizational change retain their previous pay scale even if placed in lower roles.
NHS Highland stated that it follows national guidelines and was “committed to supporting colleagues through periods of change”.
Civil service rolls up additional expenses
The Scottish Government similarly refuses to make civil servants redundant when positions disappear. Retaining surplus central government staff costs between £2 million and £2.4 million annually, on top of figures reported by broader public bodies.
A Scottish Government spokesman defended the current framework.
Public bodies are expected to ensure that they deliver value for money and to see that all staff including those who are redeployed are engaged in appropriate work for their pay scale.