STAFF’S £30M BONUS FOR UNSOCIAL SHIFTS

MORE than 9,000 BBC staff are pocketing almost £300 extra every month in additional payments as compensation for allowing managers to make changes to their working rotas.

Figures from the broadcaster revealed it paid out £30million to staff for so-called flexibility and unpredictability fees last year.

A total of 9,059 BBC staff received the payments, made so managers can change their working hours at short notice.

The BBC also revealed that another £6.1million was shared among 8,000 staff as extra pay for working night shifts.

The BBC has tried to phase out and cut these payments in recent years but the combined bill runs at almost £36.1million per year.

The BBC said planning by managers has cut the overall bill for these two payments from £40million seven years ago to last year’s figures of £36.1million.

Critics said staff at a 24-hour news organisation should be expected to work at nights.

A BBC spokesman said: “We no longer offer flexibility or unpredictability allowances to new joiners.”