Williams staff to receive an extra weeks pay in their March pay packet

It is always nice to be able to make a positive announcement about employment or salary matters and this announcement is no exception

No-one can have failed to notice that inflation is on the rise, with food and fuel prices rising sharply in the last year.

Anyone who pays attention to the news will know that the outlook for the economy as a whole, and the construction sector in particular remains very unclear. Fragile economic growth, public sector cut-backs and high unemployment are not a great background for business planning.

Individuals and families all over the country are feeling the squeeze as inflation rises faster than wages.

We have been thinking about how this impacts on Williams & Co staff. On the one hand, the economic outlook is very challenging, but on the other hand this company has recently been out-performing both competitors and the wider economy. A big part of this success is due to the skills, commitment and effort of the people that work here.

So the first message is “Thank You” for helping drive the company forward during difficult times.

However, we know that you can’t take a “Thank You” to the supermarket, or use it to pay at the petrol pumps. We have therefore decided to make a one-off, discretionary payment to all staff who have been with the company for more than 4 months.

Staff who joined before 31^st March 2010 will receive an extra weeks pay in their March pay packet.* Staff who joined between April 1^st 2010 and Nov 30^th 2010 will receive a smaller payment, proportionate to their length of service.

This one-off payment does not affect any bonus that we may pay later in the year, and it does not replace our normal review of salaries which we will continue to undertake. It is simply a gesture from the company to help staff in difficult financial times.

We hope that it takes a bit of pressure off your personal budgets. Thank you for helping to put the business in a position where it can afford to do this.

Mick, Rachel and Ray.

*Unfortunately this payment will be subject to the usual tax and National Insurance.