Posted By Denis Hands My employer is changing over to a salary system in which pay increases will depend upon staff achieving pre-determined performance targets. One of the targets set for those of us of RSP status is to retain that status: a laudable objective. Obviously to do this we must remain Members of IOSH and pay the annual membership fee, which is now a formal obligation placed upon us by our employer. The question is, should not now our employer assume responsibility for refunding our membership fees? I would be interested to hear the views of other members.

Posted By Frank Cooper Denis, I have previously worked for a company that insisted on MIOSH RSP as part of the Job Description for its safety professionals. In this case they always paid the fees. However, my present company will not.When I approached the MD on this matter he told me that it was company policy not to pay any membership fees for anyone in the company regardless of what job descriptions called for or what professional organisations people belonged to. At least its the same rules for everyone here and not just the usually hard done by safety professional. I know this is not much help but it gives another company perspective! Regards, Frank Cooper

Posted By John Donaldson In my Institution all of the Professional members of staff are expected to pay their own fees. I believe that is also the case for Academic members of staff who might belong to, for example the Institute of Biology. However, if as a consequence of the position you belong to a university based professional organisation,for example the Association of University Radiation Protection Officers, then the fees are paid. I must say I have never worked for an organisation who have paid my normal professional fees for me, nor would I expect them to.

Posted By Jay Joshi This is an interesting thread--I am not aware of precedents in case law--as any case would probably be dealt with by civil courts or industrial tribunals. In my view,these matters need to be covered by employment contracts if Professional Membership/RSP are within job descriptions. The employers could be leaving themselves to liability if it is in job descriptions.After all, membership(attending branch meetings etc) and RSP can be construed as continuing training and competence requirements. The crux is that if the emloyer refuses, most of us would continue paying membership fees. Whereas IOSH has to an extent been involved in the "COMPETENCE" campaign, it has not really been in the forefront of it. My understanding on it is that the HSE will not take a lead on it, but the HSE expects professional safety organisations representing Safety Practitioners to do so.

Posted By Stuart Nagle Perhaps I am just fortunate, but all of my previous employers (Local Government) and the private Sector Company I am now employed by (previously Government Department), have systems that pay for 'Professional' membership subscriptions, provided they are applicable to your field of your employment. In my own case this includes memebership fees to; Institution of Civil Engineers and Engineering Council Fees Faculty of Building Institution of Occupational safety and Health and a few others. In addition to the above I am also able to claim tax relief on membership subscriptions that are applicable to my employment and employment status. It is worth noting that the inland revenue do examine membership of 'Professional' bodies and have in the past taken to task, and to the courts, those bodies who they claim (inland revenue that is) are not actually 'Professional' bodies, removing the ability of members to claim tax relief on membership. In the case of engineering bodies, this seemed to occur to bodies that where not able to offer 'Chartered Engineer' Status to members (although profesional registration was available through these bodies at Techncian and Incorporated Engineer level) !! Whether the inland revenue regard IOSH as a 'Professional' body in light of it not currently being a body approved, as it were, by the Privvy Council (the body/court that awards Chartered Status) I could not say... Perhaps someone out there knows better ? Stuart Nagle

Posted By Denis Hands Thank you all very much for your views Regards Denis