Bluebird Care Offsets Tax Increases For Staff With Pay Rises

Bluebird Care North Hampshire & West Berkshire, a leading home care provider, has responded to the Government’s National Insurance increase with pay rises for all of their staff.

On 7 September 2021, the UK Government announced an increase of 1.25% in National Insurance contributions, effective from April 2022.

In response, the home care provider has rewarded staff with an extra 1.25% annual pay rise, to offset the increase in taxes they will pay. The pay rise is an acknowledgement of the hard work and commitment they make being on the front line delivering quality care, under demanding circumstances.

The home care provider, who are a part of Bluebird Care’s prestigious network of over 200 offices across the country, do not wish for their staff to have to contribute to the sector in which they work in. They would rather bear the cost, and responsibility, themselves.

Their home care services include domiciliary care, companionship, live-in care, night and respite treatment and end-of-life support, along with specialist dementia and Alzheimer’s disease care. These services are delivered by excellent Care Assistants, whose pockets will no longer be hit as a result of the increases to National Insurance contributions.

Bluebird Care North Hampshire & West Berkshire already provide salaried contracts to their Care Assistants to provide financial stability, a guaranteed income, and a secure job. The pay rise is a continuation of the support they provide for employees, to accompany rigorous training and a prosperous career pathway.

Phil Miles, Director at Bluebird Care North Hampshire & West Berkshire, said:

“Bluebird Care North Hampshire & West Berkshire understands the Government needs to properly fund health and social care in the UK, however, we cannot allow our staff to be worse off as a result after they have been working during some of the most difficult times that our sector has ever been through. 

“Therefore, we are delighted to commit to an additional increase in pay of 1.25% above our normal annual uplift calculation in April 2022 to ensure that none of our staff feel financially disadvantaged because of the increase in National Insurance Contributions. Considering all they have done during the pandemic, it is the least we can do.”