Features
Incentives for retention
By Annie Casey

Volume 50, No.3, March 8, 2007
 
IMPROVEMENTS: Navy Personnel and Training are applying the feedback provided by ADF members.
Photo: ABPH Paul Berry
 
Annie Casey, public affairs officer for Navy Personnel & Training discusses retention bonus incentives.

The Chief of Navy has urged members to take up the offer of the latest round of retention bonus incentives.

Director General of Navy Personnel and Training CDRE Nigel Coates thanked members for their participation and feedback following the distribution of the command information pack on the retention bonuses scheme which went out in spring 2006.

“We appreciate the frank and informative contributions from our personnel from across the board.” CDRE Coates said.

“There were many useful ideas and suggestions which we are noting and where realistically possible we shall include.

The retention situation is being fought on many fronts and the bonus scheme targeting shortfalls in certain categories is just one of the measures.”

Overall members appear to understand the need for improved retention particularly in the capability and stability context.

Of concern for some was the reduced bonus attractiveness where it attracted fringe benefit tax and in some cases was affecting family tax benefits/Centrelink/family assistance.

These concerns are being heard and further options are being developed as a result of your feedback.

A common misconception is that these retention bonus schemes are some form of reward for performance; this is wrong.

The schemes are aimed squarely at encouraging people to stay in categories experiencing the most significant shortages; it’s that simple.

Members believe the real way to improve retention is to stop looking at financial incentives alone and concentrate on making the RAN a better place to work.

Specific areas of concerns were living standards, workloads, sea/shore ratios and most importantly, to increase stability by reducing the number of short notice changes to ship’s programs which have resulted in a high level of personal turmoil for ships companies.

Many of these issues are known but your feedback has reinforced matters and enabled Navy Personnel and Training to further explore avenues to improve conditions for all our personnel.