East Boro ER News October 2022

Starters

Elaine James Housing Concierge

Alison Cross

Relief Domicillary Care & Support Worker

Leavers Michelle Statham Domicillary Care & Support Worker

Winter payment to assist all colleagues

This item is just to ensure all colleagues picked up the email/announcement made earlier this month by Group Chief Executive, Bjorn Howard, regarding assistance being provided to all colleagues this winter. Below is an extract from Bjorn’s email that was sent to every East Boro and Aster Group colleague on Thursday 13 October.

Whilst our financial position remains stable, we know the months ahead will be more challenging, as the cost-of-living crisis and economic uncertainty impacts on our finances along with other factors like the potential rent cap and what this means for us as a business.

In light of this, we’ve considered what we could do as an employer to support you and we’re pleased to be able to bring forward some of the provision we’re making available for pay next year, to give everyone a one-off winter payment. This will be £1,500 and it will be paid in November, along with your usual salary.

Included in this newsletter is the FAQ sheet giving full details about the payment and other options. Please note the cut off date of 9 November, if you do not wish to receive the payment in your November salary and choose one of the alternative options. This is an excellent decision and I also sincerely hope this payment helps all EBHT colleagues through the uncertain and challenging economic time/winter that we are facing. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact reward@aster.co.uk

Kevin Hodder Chief Executive

On the 28 September Richard Teather was appointed as the Chairman of East Boro.

Our previous Chair, Eileen Hayward, stepped down from the Board after reaching the maximum term that she could serve as a Board member. Eileen has been a first class Chair and Board Member and she will be missed by everyone at EBHT.

Richard was previously a Board Member, retiring from the Board in July 2019 after he also reached his maximum term of service, but is now able to return after a three year gap, and we look forward to him leading EBHT as its Chair.

East Boro Housing Trust is a Charitable Registered Society under the Co operative and Community Benefits Societies Act 2014 No. 16946R

Welcome & Farewell

FAQs Winter payment

How much is the winter payment?

The one-off winter payment is £1,500 and will attract the usual deductions such as tax and national insurance

When will this be paid?

You will receive the one-off payment in your November 2022 pay, along with your usual salary

Is there anyone who won’t receive the winter payment?

Most colleagues will receive the winter payment but there are some who aren’t eligible, these are:

• Executive Board directors

• Agency colleagues

• Any leavers in November 2022

• EBHT and C&C colleagues on zero-hour contracts who have worked less than 60 hours in the last six months

I don’t wish to receive the payment as a lump sum in November, what are my options?

We have explored what options we can offer colleagues who do not wish to receive the payment in November’s pay, or don’t wish to receive the payment at all. These are listed below:

• Opt to receive the payment in monthly instalments instead between November 2022 and March 2023, subject to usual deductions

Opt for this arrangement here

• Opt out of receiving the payment and have £1,500 of personal development added to your learning budget to be used by March 2023

Opt for this arrangement here

• Opt out of receiving the payment completely.

Opt for this arrangement here

If colleagues would prefer one of the options detailed above the deadline to confirm this is by close of play on Wednesday 9 November.

I’m in receipt of universal credit or tax credits and worried about how this impacts me, who can I speak to?

We know some of you may have questions about the payment and how that fits with other support

you may be in receipt of outside of work, although we have worked with internal specialist teams to provide some alternatives to receiving the lump sum. Colleagues should carry out their own due diligence and seek advice from relevant agencies ie. Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848

I work part-time will I get the same amount as colleagues who work full time?

Yes you will, everyone (with the exceptions of those mentioned above) will get the same amount, less their individual tax and deductions

Will we receive a winter payment next year?

This is a one off non-contractual payment we have decided to award to recognise the extraordinary circumstances colleagues are facing as the cost of living continues to increase I have colleagues in my team who are on maternity/paternity or long-term sick leave, will they receive the payment?

Yes, colleagues on maternity/paternity leave or on long-term sick will still receive the payment in November

I’m currently going through a disciplinary process, will I still receive the one off payment? Yes, all colleagues will receive the payment in November (with the exception of those mentioned above)

I’m on a temporary contract, will I receive the payment?

Yes, all colleagues will receive the payment (with the exception of those mentioned above)

What does this mean for the pay review in April 2023?

Over the next few months, we will continue to assess how the economic situation is likely to impact us in the longer term and what budgets we will have available. This includes modelling possible pay award options, and we’ll talk to you more about this early in the new year when we know more.

Aster supporting colleagues with Financial wellbeing

We already have some solutions in place that support colleagues with financial wellbeing. The Employee Assistance Programme provided by Health Assured gives colleagues access to qualified therapists to offer support on financial issues, call 0800 028 0199 and quote ‘Perkbox’ and Aster Group. In addition, Perkbox our employee discounts site, provides access to hundreds of discounts, including savings at supermarkets such as Asda, Tesco, M&S as well as household utilities such as BT, Sky and Virgin Media just to name a few. Colleagues also have access to some free perks.

The Aster Group has a number of salary sacrifice benefits in place, such as cycle to work, payroll giving schemes and some pension scheme deductions. This allows colleagues to make tax and national insurance efficiencies by exchanging part of their salary in return for a non-cash benefit. This reduction in earnings means there is less national insurance due. In 2019 in conjunction with First Actuarial, Aster’s pension consultant, a bespoke pension modeller tool was built and launched to colleagues. The tool allows colleagues to estimate the impact of saving more (or less) into our pension schemes, retiring earlier or later than your normal pension age in your scheme and the impact of taking annuity or flexible income. We’ll be sharing lots of useful tips and resources over the coming months via Asternet as part of a new cost of living regular feature to help you wherever possible. Addressing increase in fuel cost for business mileage

Earlier this year (April 2022) we increased all business mileage rates to the HMRC maximum rate of 45 pence per business mile to recognition of rising vehicle fuel and running costs. Additionally, we are currently re-assessing our expenses policy position on ‘from the door mileage’ as a result of our more Agile working options. This means that that colleagues may be able to claim for actual business mileage ‘from home’ to other legitimate work locations (excluding business travel to/from designated primary work location, in order to remain compliant with HMRC rules on business travel). This proposal has received the support of Corporate Performance & People Panel, and has been recommended to our Executive Board, subject to further detailed financial modelling. This is to ensure the future affordability of this proposal if it were to be approved. Further information on this will follow as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please contact the reward team reward@aster.co.uk

Developments in Development Sod cutting in Sleight Lane

Builders, A. Hammond & Sons Ltd., have been contracted by East Boro to develop nine x two and three bed houses at Sleight Lane, Corfe Mullen, Dorset which will provide five houses for shared ownership and four houses for affordable rent.

They are due for completion in August 2023 and will be called Perry Cottages. This development will provide much needed affordable housing for the local residents of Corfe Mullen.

Pictured from the left: Andy Palmer, Director Ellis Belk; Kevin Hodder, Chief Executive East Boro; Gerald Duke, Vice Chair East Boro; Cllr. Duncan Sowry-House, Mayor of Corfe Mullen; Richard Teather, Chairman East Boro and Dan Freemantle, A. Hammond & Sons Ltd.

From the world’s first flushable wet wipe, drama therapy to aid

loss, making the invisible visible, and empowering

to join cybersecurity careers, this year’s inc. cohort is our largest yet. Our 12 social enterprises are already blazing a trail and challenging us to think and act differently.

Aligned to the Aster Foundation impact programmes of sustainability, ageing well (+55), mental wellness and resilience and employability, these social enterprises have now begun their journey on our unique ten-month social incubator, inc.

Over this period, they will be focusing on their business development through our syllabus and mentoring, whilst growing their social impact through projects being delivered across and within our communities.

You can find out more about each business on our website here.

It was World Menopause Day on Tuesday 18 October and we’re really pleased to be launching our new Wellness Action Plan for Menopause.

A Wellness Action Plan reminds us of what we need to do to stay well at work and details what your leader can do to support you. You only need to give information that you’re comfortable sharing and a Wellness Action Plan will help you and your leader agree together how to support you to manage your menopausal symptoms and thrive at work.

Menopause will affect half of our workforce directly. It will also have an impact on colleagues, friends, partners, or family members supporting someone experiencing menopausal symptoms.

We have a monthly menopause chat slot called ‘The Sofa Sessions’ which usually has a guest speaker and time for Q&A on a range of topics. Contact Julie Cridland, health, and wellbeing lead, to be added to the monthly invite.

Our Hot Topic group is on MS Teams where we post useful information, share tips, and offer online support – we also share recordings of the sofa sessions here for those wanting to listen on catch up. Please contact Julie to be added to the team.