flexi time instead of overtime

[simjan]

Was told before xmas that will no longer be paid overtime, could build flexi up and have it as an extra weeks holiday, now a few of us have built up over 30 hours, only work 28. and found there is no time available to take this time off. What do we do, Thanks.

[counter man]

as far as I was aware it is your choice if you want to bank it or claim it as overtime. If they refuse to pay overtime dont do it, however if you do want to flex up you can claim it back.
Under BOSA/COSA if you give enough notice they have to give you the time off...and if it cannot be accommodated the overtime paid.
Any other views?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Was told before xmas that will no longer be paid overtime, could build flexi up and have it as an extra weeks holiday, now a few of us have built up over 30 hours, only work 28. and found there is no time available to take this time off. What do we do, Thanks.

3 actions you can take all mean you have to confront management and their actions so make sure you have enough support.

1. Refuse to do overtime until its sorted.
2. Put a greviance in against the Manager refusing the TOIL (Time off in Lieu as that what it is in practice)
3. Seek Union guidance and if you have enough support request a rule 13 Ballott.

One question though - why are you doing this there is no National Agreement on Banking Hours and IIRC its mentioned as a possibility in Phase 4 of Pay and Mod which RM have withdrawn from and why parts of the CWU are carrying out IA.

Also do you have copy of any local agreement it might be worth reading through it again to see if there is any comeback on the bosses.

[k979aaa]

Yep no agreement on this and many other things so your flexi time you have paid in will go on the wim of your DOM. (WHAT TIME DID YOU DO I DON'T BELIEVE IT) AND NO YOU CANNOT HAVE ANY TIME OFF!.

[saunders265]

Hang on folks; I think you are talking about the way things are done in Royal Mail. Such matters in Post Office Counters are covered by the Crown Office Staffing Agreement. This agreement was helpfully posted in the <Union Room<Downloads section of this Forum by the TrueBlue Terrier on 3 March 2009.

I quote from Paragraph 4 of the Agreement entitled ‘Flexible Attendance’:

The system is designed to complement the structured core duties. Its purpose is to balance staffing levels to customer flow whilst providing opportunities for colleagues to flex their attendance. This has to be viewed against the background of colleagues and managers being prepared to ‘give and take’.

The Flexible Attendance System must be applied consistently, with all colleagues being treated equally throughout the Crown Office network. Its aim is to align staffing to traffic flows to ensure good customer service.

The system is designed to provide flexibility to meet customer requirements by increasing the resource available to meet forecasted peaks of customer demand. This will be achieved by recycling hours from times when less resource is required.

As a consequence full time colleagues will progressively constitute the majority of the workforce. For some, part time working is a stepping stone to full time employment, for others part time working is better for a good work/life balance. Recognising this, a mix of full and part time staffing arrangements remain the most effective means of addressing the issue of delivering excellent service to customers.


The system enables colleagues to work in a consistent environment, where workload is spread throughout the month by using resource at peak times and reducing staffing during quiet times. This is achieved by the following key elements

• the ability to voluntarily bank additional hours worked and take at a later date
• the ability to ask for time off and pay the hours back at a later date
• at quieter times
o colleagues may request to leave early
o managers may also seek volunteer(s) to leave early

In both these circumstances hours owed will be worked at a mutually acceptable time.

• liability for full time colleagues to work their scheduled days off with a minimum of 6 weeks notice

It is the responsibility of the Crown Office Manager to give six weeks notice of the need to attend on a scheduled rest day. It is the obligation of the individual to work this attendance. The scheduled duties are an agreed core, and are therefore subject to flexibility provided all individuals are given the appropriate period of notice.

It will not be necessary to vary the hours of all full time colleagues from their scheduled core duties on a regular basis

Part time colleagues may also participate in the Flexible Attendance System on a voluntary basis.


Simjan, you say you only work 28 hours per week? Did you volunteer participate as per the final paragraph?

The Agreement continues:

BANKING OF HOURS
The system will reduce the reliance on month end pressure overtime, by the recycling of hours from mid month. However, it is necessary to retain the ability to accommodate unforeseen circumstances. This will be achieved through the banking of hours with individuals voluntarily performing additional hours to cover unexpected staffing requirements and being compensated through time off or the payment of overtime, the choice being made by the colleague.

Colleagues may prefer to build up surplus hours to take additional time off for holidays up to a maximum of 12 days a year. As the additional hours will be taken as Annual Leave they will therefore be subject to the selection process. To ensure fairness these days/weeks over and above the basic entitlement should only be taken once all the actual Annual Leave entitlements have been selected.

RECORDING OF HOURS - TIMESHEETS
It is essential the system is managed effectively with all additional hours worked being credited. The timesheet at Annex A will be provided to each colleague. Time owed and banked will be recorded daily by colleagues and checked by managers. A diary or duty book should be kept to note daily changes in attendance. It is important to keep accurate timesheets for conformance audits, and they must be available to colleagues at all times.

It is important that the hours are maintained within sensible limits. Hours owed or banked should not exceed 24, unless it is for an exceptional reason and a short period in agreement between the Crown Office Manager and colleagues. With proper scheduling and planning, a significant surplus or deficit of hours should not build up; if this does occur on an ongoing basis it would indicate a need to review the core duties.

It strikes me that things aren’t working quite right where you are. As suggested by others, I think you should engage the support of your colleagues, and then have a word with your Union Representative.

[saunders265]

Missed a bit!

4.1 SCHEDULED CORE DUTIES
Scheduled core duties are agreed for the staffing requirement of the office and will have a maximum of five scheduled attendances in any one week.

The system allows core duties which do not take into consideration fluctuations in traffic, such as, month end to be flexed.

Full time colleagues have a liability to be scheduled to work one full day over and above weekly conditioned hours. It is important to give colleagues at least six weeks notice of the requirement for an additional day’s attendance.

Colleagues requiring a certain day as their compensating day off will also be required to give at least six weeks notice to the Crown Manager.

A compensating day off for working a rest day must be taken within four months and can be linked to a scheduled rest day. Colleagues reclaiming surplus hours worked will be able to on a like for like basis. Where a compensating day is gained through working a Saturday, another Saturday may be taken in compensation.

[billyhayes]

Managers have been getting their arses kicked by CAMs etc over the past few months to keep overtime to as little as possible. The 'flexible attendance system' is described within COSA.

[Pinky 1]

Well this goes on in our delivery office, introduced by our Rep ..
Not for me, .......i work it you pay for it !

But it does show how out of step we are with each other