Low-paid NHS staff are being forced to cough up £50 just to start work at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, UNISON says today (Monday).
The introduction of the policy means new recruits – such as healthcare assistants, cleaners and catering staff – must pay for their own security checks before they can even clock on, despite earning just £12.36 an hour, says the union.
With staff turnover at the trust sitting at around 10%, this change will hit more than 1,000 new starters a year – piling pressure on an NHS already struggling to fill shifts, UNISON says.
UNISON East Midlands regional organiser Rachel Perry-Doyle said: “This decision was pushed through without warning. There were no talks with staff, managers or unions, flying in the face of years of cooperation and fair play.
“People have already had to turn down jobs they were excited to start because they simply can’t afford the £50 fee upfront.
“The trust must reverse this decision and re-commit to supporting staff from day one – not undermining them before they even walk through the door.”
