Care Quality Commission pay ballot FAQs

This offer relates to all staff employed by Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 2 September 2024.

The RCN has been campaigning for Fair Pay For Nursing and believe it is our members who should decide on any pay offer. You can cast your vote from midday on 4 November 2024 until midday on 20 November 2024.

Make sure your contact details are up to date on MyRCN. You can also contact Barry Hutchinson, National Officer on barry.hutchinson@rcn.org.uk.

To be eligible to vote, your MyRCN details must show that you work at CQC. You can cast your vote on the RCN website. You can update your details on MyRCN, or call RCND on 0345 772 6100 to make sure that your details are correct.

The RCN is not making any recommendation on this pay offer.

We believe that all nurses and nursing support workers, wherever they work, deserve to receive fair pay, terms and conditions.

It is for you, RCN members employed by CQC, to have the final say on this offer.

If RCN members vote to accept the offer, we will notify CQC that RCN members working at CQC accept the pay offer.

If RCN members vote to reject the pay offer, we will seek to return to negotiations.

You are only voting on the pay offer in this ballot. It’s not a ballot about Industrial Action. If you vote to reject the pay offer, we will try to negotiate an improved offer on your behalf.

The effect on an individual's benefit depends on individual circumstances and the type of benefit they receive. Members who are on means-tested benefits, such as universal credit, should consider the implications of CQC's pay offer before voting to reject or accept it in the RCN's consultative ballot.

To check your benefits situation, call the Citizens Advice Helpline on 0800 144 8848 Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Calls are free.

The offer is a gross figure (before tax), and you need to take deductions into account when considering the pay offer.

Pay is subject to tax and national insurance contributions. Members should check the current income tax and national insurance rates to assess how the pay offer will affect their take-home pay at the UK government income tax calculator.

Rises in pensionable pay are also subject to increases in pension contributions. Use this workplace pension contribution calculator to find out more about your pension contributions.

Members of pension schemes pay a proportion of their wages into their pension, as does their employer. The pension these members receive is determined by how much is paid into this pension and how it is invested by the pension provider. For most members in any pension schemes, receiving a higher wage may lead to higher pension contributions, but exactly what the impact of this pay offer will be will depend on individual members' circumstances.

The RCN cannot give members individual advice on the impact of this pay offer on their pension. Members who wish to know more about their pension should consult their pension provider first and then take up financial advice if necessary.

The consultative ballot will be open from 12pm Monday 04 November 2024.

You can cast your vote on the RCN website. Only RCN members employed by CQC are eligible to take part in the consultative ballot on this pay offer.

If you've told us that you are employed by CQC you should have received an email with a link to the voting page where you can read more about the pay offer as well. The consultative ballot will close 12pm Wednesday 20 November 2024. You will not be able to vote after this time.

To update your details, please log in to MyRCN or call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 (select option one), or email membership@rcn.org.uk. Please include your membership number in your email, and you will be asked for it if you call.

If you have issues accessing the voting website, please log in to MyRCN or call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 (select option one), or email membership@rcn.org.uk. Please include your membership number in your email, and you will be asked for it if you call. You can learn more about RCN membership and other ways to get in touch on our membership FAQs.

You do not need an email to vote. You can cast your vote on the RCN website.

Your employer will not know if or how you chose to vote on this offer. Your vote is confidential, and the consultative ballot is conducted by the RCN

The RCN will inform CQC of the percentage of members voting for and against the employer's offer and the outcome of this vote.

Yes, provided you are an RCN member and employed on a CQC contract, you are eligible to take part in the consultative ballot on this pay offer. For your vote to be counted your MyRCN record must be updated to include that you work there.

To update your details, log in to MyRCN or call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 (select option one), or email membership@rcn.org.uk. You must include your membership number in your email, and you will be asked for it if you call. You can find out more about RCN membership and other ways to get in touch on our membership FAQs.

All staff currently employed by CQC are eligible to participate in the consultative ballot.

If you are no longer employed by CQC but were employed on 2 September then you will be entitled to the pay increase from 1 September to the date you left, and any back pay. Please contact CQC to discuss this with them.

If you have received an email encouraging you to vote in this consultative ballot it might be that your details in the RCN membership database are out of date.  To update your details, log in to MyRCN or call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 (select option one), or email membership@rcn.org.uk. Please include your membership number in your email, and you will be asked for it if you call.