The Horizon compensation plan has been a topic of controversy for years, with many post office bosses receiving bonuses based on the performance of the Horizon computer system. However, recent revelations have shown that the system was flawed, leading to wrongful accusations and convictions of postmasters.
As a result, there have been calls to reclaim the bonuses paid out to post office bosses under the Horizon compensation plan. This is a necessary step in holding those responsible for the Horizon scandal accountable for their actions.
The Horizon computer system was introduced in 1999, with the aim of modernizing the post office’s accounting and stock control systems. However, it soon became clear that the system was flawed, with many postmasters being wrongly accused of financial irregularities.
These accusations led to the loss of jobs, homes, and reputations for many postmasters, who were left to fight for their innocence against a system that was stacked against them. It was only in 2021 that the full extent of the Horizon scandal was revealed, with the Post Office admitting that the system was flawed and that it had wrongly accused hundreds of postmasters.
One of the key issues with the Horizon compensation plan was that it incentivized post office bosses to push the system to its limits, regardless of the consequences for postmasters. This led to a culture of fear and intimidation, with postmasters being pressured to make up shortfalls in their accounts, even if they knew that the Horizon system was to blame.
The bonuses paid out to post office bosses under the Horizon compensation plan were a reward for this culture of fear and intimidation. They were a way of incentivizing post office bosses to push the system to its limits, regardless of the consequences for postmasters.
However, now that the full extent of the Horizon scandal has been revealed, it is clear that these bonuses were paid out on false pretenses. They were paid out based on the performance of a flawed system that wrongly accused innocent postmasters.
As such, it is only right that these bonuses be reclaimed from post office bosses. This would send a clear message that those responsible for the Horizon scandal will be held accountable for their actions, and that the post office is committed to making things right for those who were wrongly accused.
Reclaiming these bonuses will not be an easy task, but it is a necessary one. It will require a concerted effort from all those involved, including the post office, the government, and the public. But if we are to truly hold those responsible for the Horizon scandal accountable for their actions, then we must take this step.
In conclusion, the Horizon compensation plan was a flawed system that incentivized post office bosses to push the system to its limits, regardless of the consequences for postmasters. The bonuses paid out under this system were a reward for this culture of fear and intimidation, and they must be reclaimed from post office bosses. This is a necessary step in holding those responsible for the Horizon scandal accountable for their actions, and in making things right for those who were wrongly accused.
