Rewards and benefits

Job Levels

We use a method of pay banding to promote equality and fairness for all our staff. There are five Job Levels (JL) 1 to 5 (5 being junior). Graduate entrants can usually expect to start at Job Level 4.

New entrants join at the minimum unless there are exceptional circumstances relating to skills, experience and market forces.

There is an annual pay review which is payable to all salaried employees who meet expected levels of performance. The award will vary depending on the individual's current basic pay and their annual performance.

Bonuses

An annual corporate bonus linked to performance against the Met Office's Key Performance Targets is paid to satisfactory performers. Success in 2007/8 against these targets generated net bonus payments of £805.

We operate contribution-based bonus systems to reward employees and teams who deliver over and above expected requirements.

Other allowances

The Met Office has a number of allowances for certain jobs, tasks or locations, such as shift working, weekend working, BBC and for working in London.

Loans

An advance of salary may be made to permanent employees for the purchase of a bicycle or season ticket.

Salary Sacrifice

We operate both Child Care voucher and Bike to Work schemes.

Annual leave

Annual leave is 25 days on entry, rising to 30 days after 7 years' service, plus 10.5 days for public and privilege holidays per annum.

Maternity/adoption leave

Maternity - you are entitled to a maximum of 52 weeks maternity leave. The 52 weeks consist of 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave immediately followed by 26 weeks of additional maternity leave. All employees who meet the qualifying conditions are entitled to receive 39 weeks statutory maternity leave (covering the 26-week period of ordinary maternity leave and the first 13 weeks of additional maternity leave.

Parental leave - up to 13 weeks unpaid is also available for all employees who have at least one year's continuous employment in the civil service. Paternity leave of two working weeks is also offered.

Special paid leave

Available in various circumstances: compassionate leave, domestic emergencies, examinations, interviews, sabbatical leave, study leave and training.

Our purpose-built Exeter headquarters provide us with a modern, environmentally friendly workspace. The building has been designed to support an advanced IT infrastructure which will enhance our image as a world-leading scientific organisation, reinforcing our reputation as a leading provider of first-class environmental services.

Facilities include: Training college Library Conference facilities Restaurant Coffee bar Shop Gym, sports and recreation area

Sustainable transport to work scheme

The scheme includes car sharing, bicycle routes, bus service to/from Met Office headquarters and access to pool bicycles.

• Offers staff discounts on local leisure facilities
  
• Organises trips, tournaments and sports days
  
• For a small annual membership fee, there is leisure suite with a gym equipped with various aerobic and anaerobic exercise machines and free-weights
• The Health Club includes services such as personal training, aerobic classes and massage therapy
  
• Raises teams to participate in local events - squash, football, tennis, badminton, rifle shooting and croquet