Golden pay-offs
Thursday 26th May 2011, 3:00PM BST.
Bill Ogley, who is leaving at the end of May
STATES chief executive Bill Ogley is to receive a six-figure pay-off when he leaves his job at the end of the month, a States Senator said yesterday.
Speaking at a Scrutiny Panel hearing yesterday Senator Jim Perchard said that both a States chief executive and a former chief officer of Health and Social Services had left their posts with ‘golden handshakes’ worth hundreds of thousands of pounds each.
He referred to one leaving with £500,000 and another with £300,000, but did not specify who had received what. It is understood, however, that the higher figures relates to Mr Ogley’s departure.
The Senator did not give names but was understood to be referring to Mr Ogley and the former chief officer of Health and Social Services Mike Pollard, who resigned in 2009.
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Why? And is he really worth it!
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Is it April fools day? or are we the fools every penny paid out is someones hard earned tax money.People responsible for this should be ashamed. I am now ashamed to live in Jersey but due to a stamp in my passport I cannot move anywhere else
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Nothing political on this Island surprises me anymore.
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Words fail me.
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This is why Jersey is in such a parlous state. Is there no end to the list of hidden extra perks – if you can call throwing hundreds of thousands to so many for so little a perk. We should all know exactly what we are paying this crowd of freebooters, and exactly what for. But, in Jersey, that bastion of open government, that would be a bridge far too far. Why not increase GST to 15% so that we can continue to pay public employees their inflation-proof pensions, and b**ger the rest of us, eh Senator Ozouf?
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Nice one JEP, a May fools day!!!!
Mr Jackson wont catch us out this time!!!!
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I don’t know what I get more cross about. My hard earned taxes going to all those who are screwing the benefits system (the majority of claimants), or to these obscene salaries and pay outs that some senior civil servants recieve.
Can anyone just give me one reason as to how this sort of money can be justified… Please.
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Simply mind boggling.
Golden parachutes when the island is lurching ever further in to the red.
When Bill Ogley arrived a lot was talked about better, faster, cheaper and a new dawn for the States.
A few years down the line he is away and nothing has changed.
We still have no coordination of policy, thinking would be nice and the joined up variety would be even better.
Roll in the next Chief Executive at vast expense, let him try and connect the CoM to the departments that actually do the work. Watch the departments fight like cats for their bit of turf for a few years and then roll off in to the sunset with more cash than most people will ever see in one place in their whole lives.
It’s the Jersey way!!!
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Yes they can pay off the Chief Officer of Health with a huge amount of money yet they have taken away mine and my Husbands Health Benefits because as Pensioners like most Pensioners in Jersey we spend a lot of our time holidaying in the Sun. So after having paid into Social Security for all our Married life since 1963 we now are treated as Visitors to the Island and have to pay the
Hospital Doctor and Prescriptions in full and as I have just been diagnosed with Osteoporosis and have a Fracture in my Spine and also Cataracts in both eyes it is getting a worry as to how we can afford the treatment.
My Husband has also been diagnosed with Plural Plaques a form of Asbestosos through working in Jersey since 1963 and receives nothing whatsoever from any Authority. But yes go on paying all these people all that money. All we want to do is live our lives whatever is left of them in peace and what I always thought was a basic human right having paid into the system since leaving School Medical Cover. And as a good old Jersey Girl you all know what is stamped in my Passport so I can’t even get cover throughout the EU. So thank you Social Security for our long awaited Happy Retirement. By the way the only way we got to find out that Social had taken away our Medical Cover is when I went to my Doctor and was charged as a Private Patient having been to the same Practice for the last 43 years.
Good old Jersey Eh!!!!!
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Nice work if you can get it !
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Yet again, the State demonstrates poor cost control; not only do they reward certain civil servants with permanent salaries based on short-term contract rates, but then follow it with negative reinforcement (i.e. being rewarded for failure).
Surely if someone resigns from their post then they forfeit any notice payment – this would save £300k in this instance. Please can someone in the States look into employment contracts for senior civil servants to ensure this does situation not recur?
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I thought only bankers were rewarded for failure.
Both of these gentlemen “resigned” so why are they being paid off?
If they wanted to leave before their contracts were over they are in breach and should be liable to PAY compensation.
If executives cannot do their jobs in the private sector they are sacked without compensation. I recall that both these gentlemen have received substantial criticism about their performance.
.
As usual we are fobbed off by statements that these payments are “contractual”, which incompetent is approving these one sided contracts?
£800,000 down the drain again, really handy that GST is going up.
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Wish i got a payoff for resigning, damn i missed that one when negotiating my contract.
Good bye and good riddance.
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Sorry this is a joke?
GBP300k pay off for someone who RESIGNED in 2009. Everytime I have resigned from employment I have NEVER received money.
I believe Ogley also voluntarily left.. What the F@ck are our states members on!
The lot of you.. pleas go. and go NOW.
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Disgraceful. Utterly disgraceful.
It could have paid for a few years of school milk.
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It s all right for some…
That s gonna go down a treat again…
And they cant afford to pay qualified nurses…., no surprise there.
I don’t see why we shouldn’t get dental treatment via social when they re waste money as they do…. this is sick.
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How do people determine that these guys are worth so much, when there is so little that they have achieved? Is it right to reward people for failure? It’s a well worn phrase, but the lunatics have really taken over the asylum – we are all doomed.
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And all the Jersey suckers will allow it! You get the government you deserve.
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Bloody preposterous…why do we need to pay them to go…and who signed off contracts with those disadvantageous to the employer clauses…Heads should roll over this the Tax payer has a right to refuse to pay any more if this money is to be spewed away like this …what of the appointments board Mr Soar et el who is accountable for this …as it amounts to misapropriation of the Public’s money and an outrageous situation in these financially troubled time to pay someone Half a million ponds of our money for doing nothing…this was the man heralded in as one who would save us money…yet more deceit it is scandalous.
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Absolute disgrace! Their unwarranted pay-offs after resigning from their jobs (which is questionable they did well!) is our money and is no wonder our taxes are going up … its to pay these over-paid civil servants to leach off of our Island and the worst thing is that our half-baked politicians allow and approve it! We all work hard and pay lots of tax in order for these few to live a life of luxury.
Jersey is going down the pan unless this madness stops and stops now as this is all not only unjust but is unsustainable.
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ive just beeen out to get a pot of lube , so the govement can s***t me one way or another.
to pay for this inflated cr*p.
i know what would happen if this was france.
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Nothing here to surprise us all. As I have said on numerous occasions Ozouf only wants to look after the wealthy. If anyone else resigned and broke their contract they would be asked for compensation. There is no control at all exerted by our politicians, the break their own manifestos, fill the boots of the wealthy and expect us to give them a pay rise. Vote them out in the October, Ozouf might be there for another few years, but if we get rid of his cronies perhaps he will start to listen and do his job right.
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JEP of 19 Feb 2011 – States chief executive Bill Ogley has agreed a ‘mutual termination’ of his role with Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur, and will leave the department on 31 May.
If we are paying out this kind of sum seems to me he was asked to go. If he was asked to go, where did he fail? If he failed, why the payout?
What a farce…..
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Disgusting and disgraceful. Public services being hacked back left right and centre but let’s just lob half a million Mr Ogley’s way. Words fail me.
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As somone who is being hit very hard with 20 means 20 and not receiving a pay rise, it makes me very angry that our hard earned taxes are being paid away in this manner.
I appreciate that contracts have to be honored, but this situation shoul not have arisen in the first place.
Answers please !
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Inverse incentives! The bigger the budget deficit the bigger the payoff. The CoM should all resign their seats and offer themselves for re-election.
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Chief Minister Terry le Sueur just doesn’t seem to get it. Consider this;
Bill Ogley £22,500 per month.
Andrew McLauglin £18,000 per month.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn €25,000 per month.
Jersey pensioner £780 per month.
Do you get it now,Terry?
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all good points, above. But posting on the JEP message board isn’t going to do a whole lot about it. Wait until next week when the next outrageous news comes to light and everything will be forgotten.
Petitions have proven futile. Open letters fall on deaf ears. Very few can even be bothered to vote. Can’t see anyone around here organising a demonstration, either.
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Well, what a surprise……..sounds like Hobin Rood to me!!!!!!!!!
Take from the poor and give to the rich.
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Who agrees to all these settlements………..somebody has to so is it not time that one of our grand states members stands up ……….or are they all cowards…..this is got to be one of the most stupid decisions that have been made….if its a payment it comes from the Treasury so come on OZOUF….is it you?????
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Truly unbelievable!!!!
Where do you get the job applications forms from?
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Mr Ogley salary 270,000.00 same as the head of IMF!!! Mr Ogley salary is scandalous. Why is Mr Pollard getting a golden handshacke when he was asked to resign?? The goverment we deserved as Mr Syvret tell us.
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Banal !
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I cannot believe that persons voluntarily resigning from their jobs because they don’t like the support (or lack of), or the stance taken by their employers The States of jersey should be rewarded so generously from the taxpayers purse. This is another sad example of the ineffectual government on this Island. The majority of employees face criticism every day, have to justify their positions and account for their performance (or in his case lack of)and are not in a position to go with a golden handshake. How dare the Council of Ministers choose to unilatterally dispense my hard earned taxes in such a way. Shame on you those who endorsed it and even more shame on Mr Ogley a man grown rich on the poverty his policies have inflicted upon our Island. This man has been the real policy maker and look where we are now. This will have no effect Bill Ogley is too smug and self satisfied to ever read these posts by those who care.
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The real issue is with the incompetent people who ‘negotiated’ this level of pay-off.
My understanding is that our Senators employ top quality people on top salaries & then interfere to such an extent that these people are unable to deliver to the level that they can or are being paid to.
Net result said top talent get frustrated being told what to do by people who are clueless and push back. Relations break down & the only solution is to arrange a pay-off for the person to ‘resign’.
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If the Jersey council of Ministers and other politicians allow this carry on in the name of the honest people of Jersey, it indeed proves he is a very clever man, or they are spineless and incompetent and should resign.
Tim South.
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Never before in the history of Jersey has so many profited from so few.
The taxpayers of Jersey should be disgusted by this criminal act by our States of Jersey and its senior civil servants. In paying these grossly exorbitant payoffs it sends a very clear message to the people of Jersey….
Pay up and shut up.
Senator Ozouf has a lot to answer for.
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Both these Civil Servants have left under a dark cloud yet tango off into the sunset with £800,000 pounds not including their pensions. But what of the paper that has given us the story? If they had done their job properly and investigated these two instead of churning out the establishment line they would have saved the Jersey Tax Payer £800,000.
The Government /Media is in a disgusting mess
RS
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We have a problem in Jersey. Things are happening which should not be happening. In the “old days”, these things were covered up to keep the festering stench of it all away from the daylight.
These days, we have a notional and superficial level of apparent transparency. We therefore know, partly at least, what is going on here. That said, we still have to play a game of “guess who” and try to work out who is scuttling off back to England with a large sack of our money. How exciting. Can all the family play?
The apparent transparancy has, however, ushered in a new kind of cynical unaccountability. Much of this stems from the implementation of the backwards looking and madiaeval ministerial government.
What we now have is a “government” which knows that we know certain things and knows that we know that unconstitutional and sometimes downright illegal things are going on. A large number of these things is as far removed from the voters’ wishes that one could imagine. Yet the “government” does not care that we know because it is untouchable, both politically and with regard to any court of law and it knows it.
I didn’t agree at the time with Syvret complaining to Whitehall about the antics of some of his former collegues but I am beginning to see why that would have been the only avenue which was perceived to be open to a concerned party, although of course history has dictated that any such complaint is merely referred back to the body about whom the complaint was made in the first place. Rest assured though, change will come and it will come very suddenly, I believe.
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Maybe God’s Mentor # 35 has it right – this makes the most sense, that the big pay-offs are gag money. Blackmail in other words. Golden parachute in exchange for a ‘silence for ever’ clause.
Which begs the question – what REALLY is going on behind the scenes. We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg I suspect.
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Nice to know that all the income tax I’ll ever pay in my life is still less than what one man gets – for what, exactly? What makes him so special?
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What a waste of money! States of Jersey is corrupt! We need local young minded people who can bring this Island back into reality!
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Pollard and Ogley signed a fixed year contract for £X when they took their jobs.
If the employer decides (or they mutaully decide – same thing but better on a CV than to say sacked) that Pollard/Ogley for one reason or another needs to leave then the employer is still liable to the unpaid amount of the initial contract signed.
It is standard employment practice to ask the person to leave having signed a confidentiality agreement so the employer does not have to divulge the outcome/reasons for the disciplining.
I can understand the above in commercially sensitive private companies and this is often the result of JACS mediation
BUT
The SoJ is NOT a commercially sensitive business. It is the “Servants” of the people of Jersey and MUST NOT hide their failings behind confidential payoffs.
Bring on the Freedom of Information Law where things like this WILL NOT be able to happen.
I know the JEP is pushing hard for the FOI law and I hopee once it is in place they use it to look back over these last 5 years where many of the “disputed?” decisions of our government have been made.
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What cruel person mentioned guitar lessons?
Only we ‘the electorate’ should be allowed to take the urine out of the COM it’s obviously ludicrously expensive for carpetbagging journeymen to do the same.
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Sack lE sEUR
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Total farce!!
Incidently, why has Perchard waited 6 years (at around £30,000 per year in wages)before saying/doing anything about the golden handshake scam.
Of couse it’s election year…silly me
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the Chief Officer of Health resiged why is he entitled to £300,000 anyone else resigns and they work their notice. Isn’t this just typical of the states nobody seems to care what amounts are paid out because nobody is ever called to task. The running of the states department is a disgrace if it was a private company it would have gone bankrupt decades ago so why is Bill Ogley allowed to receive £500,000 he obviously did not do his job properly and should not expect to receive it.
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Sandy – you’ve hit the nail right on the head, never a truer word spoken. moan, moan, moan accept it or have the cahonies to do something about it.
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It is said that the first sign of insanity is abandonment of responsibility for self…a principle which when extended has catastrophic results…This is a good example of how by a combination of abandonment of responsibility by politicians ,and scheming by power and money hungry civil servants we have ended up with this type of unacceptable situation, What buisness would allow the employees to write their own terms and conditions and allow themselves bonuses and ridiculous increases..that are not performance based…one that goes bust.The time has come to elect some down to earth clear thinking people who are straight and have common sense,these people if found will need to be firm and steadfast,and manage,not be managed..to restore the balance of power in our Government a big job that can’t be shirked any longer.Local buisnesses and jobs need supporting.let us feed and clothe and educate those who are here…and get our housekeeping in order…if you keep voting in the same people,you’re going to keep getting the same results….a band aid won’t do this time.
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Hell! I’d hate to see the size of their ‘pay off’ if they got the job done right…
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Good show to Senator Jim Perchard for revealing this disgrace. The board of directors need shaking up not golden handshakes.
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Sir
That these gentlemen are being rewarded so generously at a time when so many islanders are having to tighten their belts serves, in one’s humble opinion, only to bear witness to the fine service both have rendered to the community.
Surely only the most mean-minded rabble roursers would begrudge this token of our island’s gratitude?
Proud Jerseyman
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You gets what you votes for,blame only yourselves for voting these people into power!!!
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Proud Jerseyman @51
You are quiet right as ever.
One only needs to look at:
http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/10/08/report-criticises-suspension
to reflect on how they have gladly condescended to take a leading role in every pantomime that the “COM Player”s have put on for us. All proceeds to the law charity .
Thanks PJ&HS for giving us the “heads up” on this.
Did you spot “Cassandra” right at the back
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The Establishment in this Island are evil.
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Then Warcup the ex cop & his pal payoffs,cost of enquiries left right & centre etc etc & we have to make cutbacks!!!!!
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Thee payouts are peanuts compared to the total pensions that they will receive. Perhaps a politician should ask:
1. How much each person will receive in respect of their pension per annum and how much has this been enhanced as part of their employment termination agreements?
2. At what age will the pension start being payable?
3. How much of a tax free lump sum will they receive from the pension fund (if not included in the payments referred to in this article)
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Egypt they showed the way forward, but face it we we shout but very few have the guts to do anything about it.
So we get just what we deserve well shafted just wish they would use a better Lube my piles are killing me.
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Our States members ought to be reviewing and in some cases re negotiating these things for this is Bankrupting all of us, show some balls and challenge this runaway gravy train, as the Taxman will want everyone to pick up the Tab ..yet again,let us hope some new blood at election time vow to put an end to this Mad hatters tea party.
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Not the first Terry, conveniently forgotten Mary Alexander have we! I never voted for Le Sueur, Walker or Ozouf so I’m not to blame. Get rid of all States Members on 45k & employ 20 Jersey born businessman on 100-150k to run the Island to be elected by those resident for at least 5 years.
Then weed out the incompetent managers employed by the States who are incapable of making any good financial decisions, improve operating efficiencies & employ the young school leavers & give them a future.
There, we didn’t need Ogley after all!!!!!!!!!!!11
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To make matters worse, did either one develop a policy of succession so locals can take their place. No. Now more UK residents on similar salaries and the same will happen again in a few years.
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It’s no wonder the people don’t vote when this is the outcome. Seems to me it’s every department for itsself, apathy rules in the states & no-one is brave enough to point out the problems (look what happens to whistleblowers). No-one senior can do a proper job as ‘politics’ gets in the way so eventually employees loose the will to try & just hang in there for the pension etc.
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The top civil service needs culling. Savings must be made or else GST will be going up sooner than expecting.
This is beyond pathetic and will leave people very angry. Let us hope they be angry enough to get rid of the establishment politicians in six months time.
Nice fat pensions to boot I have no doubt. Never mind the elderly shivering in their homes next winter because they can’t afford to heat them properly or buy proper food will see this as a fair in this time of austerity. They don’t mind making sacrifices for things like this.
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mmmm call me cynical…
£500,000 golden handshake or fulfillment of contract two years at £250,000 per year that is Ogley’s wage.
I think they were pushed and the States had to pay up their contracts to get rid of them.
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As usual we only find these things out after the event – how dare our hard earned, tightly squeezed, heavily taxed, GST applied to everything we buy, can’t remember the last time we had a pay rise! earnings be used in such an insulting way – they were paid to do a job who made the incredulous decision to give them this obscene amount of money just because there leaving!! Most people are lucky to get a whip round in there workplace – somebody should be accountable for this – its so wrong.
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‘Rent Boy’ (Correspondent 54)
It is precisely because our leading civil servants and elected officials do not feel hidebound by such burdensome and quite frankly outdated concepts such as ‘due process’ and ‘the rule of law’ that they are liberated to act in a dynamic and decisive manner, to the benefit of all.
For example one wonders why you are still a ‘Rent Boy’? Surely the likes of Dandara, working in concert with a succession of enlightened housing and planning ministers, have made home ownership a realistic prospect for any hard working islander?
Proud Jerseyman
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To cover the £800,000.00 payoff, how many sales are required to generate that amount of GST ?
My Maths isn’t great but I reckon about £27,467,000.00 !!!!!
Just under £300 per person in Jersey to get rid of these clowns.
Start spending your well earned cash people !!!!
Nice one Terry & Phil.
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Proud Jerseyman said,”Surely only the most mean-minded rabble roursers would begrudge this token of our island’s gratitude?” He discussed,”…fine service both have rendered to the community.” Please tell readers one positive thing they achieved. Your wit may be mistaken as cynicism.
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#41 ‘What makes him so special?’
Face fits? Golf Club? Yacht Club? Horsey? Funny handshake?
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http://www.gov.je/News/2011/Pages/ChiefExecutiveLeaves.aspx
Mr Ogley says that ‘leaving Jersey will be a wrench.’
That’s one hell of a wrench.
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16,000,000 pounds of sales at the new 5% GST will pay for this foolhardy decision………..
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You lot who don’t vote get the governmental foul-ups you deserve
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mr Ogley says “that leaving Jersey will be a wrench”….I should say so….!! with that kind of access you couldn’t prize me away from the public purse with a crow bar..Bl;ooody ridiculous and MUST STOP>
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No 60 St Brelade Jersey bo
You have missed several others who “went off the boil” including a previous incumbent who is still around and taking on new sinecures. Why do we always seem to pay well over the odds for mediocre performance then reward them to get rid of them? Some are still “in post” how much is it going to cost to get rid of them?
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Surely the pay off is not a golden goodbye but a severance in order to get shot of the under-performing individuals, and the JEP might best report it that way.
It’s pretty shameful though whichever way you look at it – all sides to this argument would probably argue that it’s not their fault, perhaps claiming that politics has prevented me succeeding and I’m not leaving unless you pay me off as I may not get another job having tried to help this impossible political situation and ended up looking utter sh1te.
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Let’s get this in perspective…Payment for Failure is what this is all about also the appointments board…are there actually any real life working people on it..if not why not..? it ought to reflect the community as it is the same community that pays the tab….let’s get some reality in place… these contracts need reviewing…and some clawback action taken.The Taxpayer is fed up of being taken for a mug all the time.
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This was a reward, especially for Bill Ogley, a most obedient servant who followed his instuctions from the Law Lords and the inner circle to the letter!
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I think it is about time that someone has the balls in the states to review ALL contracts across the board.
All my employers in the private sector at some time have issued me with a new contract – normally for the worse – and normally with a thinly veiled threat.
1. No more ludicrous golden pay offs
2. Union affiliation will not be recognised in negotiations.
3. Your pay is performance related.
4. If the states are running at a loss – you do.
I believe it was former Chief Minister now SIR Walker that wanted Jersey to be run like a business “Jersey Enterprise” I think it was called – Well if this is how to run a business then its time to apply for bankruptcy protection.
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Maybe that’s where its all going wrong?
Businesses are run for profit.
A government should run a country/island for the well-being of its people.
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@ 70 WB
“That’s one hell of a wrench.”
The word “spanner” comes to mind ..
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I hope (and it is a feint hope) that States HR are exercising more skill in their drafting of employment contracts now. It is not the fault of the employee that their contract opens the door to these kinds of payment, and it is important that we honour the contracts (well, we have to). But isn’t it time for States HR to stand up and be counted, and to earn their senior salaries?
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Legal minds…a poser for you…Given the public outrage at these disgracedul events…could the people of Jersey take the Govt. to court for misappropriation of our funds…..?
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