This FAQ document seeks to clarify some questions which have arisen over the Police Staff Council Pay and Conditions of Service Handbook which was revised and published in April 2017.
Employers’ Secretary, Sarah Ward
e-mail: [email protected]
Trade Union Side Secretary, Ben Priestley
e-mail: [email protected]
To: Police and Crime Commissioner (copy Chief Exec &Treasurer)
Chief Constables (copy Force Personnel/HR Manager/Payroll Manager)
cc: PSC Members
Scotland and MPS (for information only)
21 February 2021
JOINT CIRCULAR 111 – PSC HANDBOOK FAQs
The following advice has been agreed by the Police Staff Council to assist police forces, trade union branches, managers and staff to implement the Handbook in line with the changes to the Handbook which were agreed in 2017.
Section 1: Working Time
1. Question: If start and finish times have to be notified at least three months in advance, what are the circumstances in which start/finish times can be changed?
a. If mutually agreed between the employer and employee or
b. As a result of a collective agreement or
c. As a result of an ‘exigency of duty’ which falls with three months’ notice or less from the start/finish time in question;
d. When moving to a different shift within a published work pattern, or as a consequence of a change to a published working pattern in a department or unit which has been the subject of full consultation with the recognised trade unions in the force.
2. Question: What is the process which should be used by forces which would like an employee to vary their individual working pattern by working on a day not originally published/scheduled at less than 12 months’ notice (i.e. a rest day)?
a. The force requests that the employee works on a rest day;
b. The employee decides whether to agree or not;
c. If the request is agreed, then the employee is entitled to payment and other arrangements for working on a day not originally published/scheduled;
d. If the employee does not agree, then volunteers may be sought elsewhere.
3. Question: Is it possible to declare an ‘exigency of duty’ to change a rest day, or start/finish times, with more than three months’ notice?
4. Question: Under what circumstances is it possible for a force to stand down (not then required to work) an employee from a published working pattern.
a. If mutually agreed between the employer and employee, or
b. As a result of a collective agreement.
Section 2: Pay
5. Question: If additional hours are offered to an employee which involves the employee working on a day not originally published/scheduled, what compensation is payable?
6. Question: Does the bar on the entitlement to additional hours payment which normally applies to part time employees, who have not worked 37 hours in any given week, apply in respect of compensation for working on a day not originally published/scheduled?
Yours sincerely
Ben Priestley, Trade Union Side Secretary
David Algie, Employers’ Side Secretariat