Frontline carers need to work for up to three months to earn what their bosses make in a day, research reveals today.
Stretched private sector staff get just £308 per week, compared with up to £18,777 for senior directors in big firms, according to a report for the Trades Union Congress.
That means bosses are getting £3,755 a day, a High Pay Centre analysis for the TUC found.
Private care staff struggle by on £8.80 an hour on average and those working for councils get £10.67.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Our care workers put themselves in harm’s way during the pandemic.
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“But pay is lowest in the private sector, where directors make themselves millionaires.
"Care services should not be get-rich schemes for greedy execs.”
The TUC looked at latest Companies House reports for Barchester Healthcare, Bupa, Care UK, Four Seasons and HC One and the packages for their top paid director.
Barchester’s received just over £2milllion, Bupa’s just over £1m, Care UK’s £900,000, Four Seasons’ £549,000 and HC One’s £332,000.
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Barchester disputed the TUC figures on the pay of bosses.
It said: “The data quoted is not accurate.
“With regard to our staff, we are very supportive and grateful for the work they do. Their remuneration scheme is the best in the sector.”
Care UK added: “Our salaries remain competitive as well as offering a range of other benefits not always seen in the sector.
“The director salary relates to a historic period when Care UK was under a different, larger structure and also ran healthcare.”
HC-One said: “To provide high-quality care to residents, it is vital we attract the best colleagues at board level.
“We increased the hourly rate for front-line staff to £9 and announced a 3% pay rise for all colleagues in April.”
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Bupa and Four Seasons declined to comment.
The Mirror is campaigning for Fair Care for All and the TUC wants a minimum £10 and hour wage for staff.
