Flexitime Scheme (Flexible Working Hours)
Introduction
The objective of the scheme is to provide flexibility to members of staff to assist their individual circumstances. The scheme has been approved by Executive Committee and was drawn up in consultation with the University’s recognised trade unions.
The scheme is being adopted as standard practice in the University, but may be implemented in a flexible manner to suit the operations of individual departments or sections. It is available, where the exigencies of the service permit, to all groups of staff other than academic staff, since they already have flexible working arrangements. Staff on set shift patterns, some part-time staff and many manual grade staff may be unable to benefit from a flexible working hours arrangement. Any scheme adopted in a Department or Section is optional as far as individual members of staff are concerned. Please note that the operational requirements of departments and sections sometimes constrain the opportunities for flexible working, therefore please consult with your line manager/head of department.
The introduction of a flexible working hours scheme does not alter the existing definition of a working week in terms of hours required to be worked by any member of staff and it does not affect overtime working. Overtime working has to be authorised in advance whereas flexible working within the scheme does not, although an accurate record of hours worked must be kept, and advance planning may be required to ensure that service provision is not adversely affected.
Details of the scheme to be operated and guidelines for its operation are shown below.
The need to ensure safe working, particularly when work is being undertaken outside core hours or in high risk areas should of course be taken into account when the scheme is implemented. Information about other aspects of flexible working which you may wish to consider such as jobshare or, in specific circumstances, homeworking, may also be obtained from the Human Resources Department.
Flexitime Scheme (Flexible Working Hours)
The basic model for the scheme is as follows:
8am - 10am - Flexible
10am - 12noon - Core
12noon - 2pm - Flexible
2pm - 4pm - Core
4pm - 6pm - Flexible
NB All staff working more than 5 sequential hours a day must take a minimum of a half hour break.
Guidelines for operation of the scheme
A Departmental/Section record of hours worked by each member of staff must be kept.
Individual members of staff must ensure that their hours of work, including lunch break are clearly and accurately shown on this record.
- The hours record should be regularly checked by supervisors to ensure that it is complete and accurate.
- All full-time staff are expected to be present during ‘Core’ hours.
- Subject to the exigencies of the service, full-time staff may work flexibly during ‘Flexible’ hours.
- Part-time staff may, subject to the exigencies of the service, work flexibly if part of their working day falls during ‘Flexible’ hours.
- 'Credit’ hours accrued as a result of the scheme must be taken as time in lieu.
- Members of staff may carry over a maximum of 1 working day of credit hours into the next month.
- Members of staff may not carry over any debit hours into the next month.
- Overtime may only be worked if previously authorised.
Definition of full-time hours
Full-time weekly hours are 36.5 for Staff.
