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Modernisation review of public sector terms and conditions

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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER

BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 5th MARCH 2013

Question

Will the Chief Minister –

  1. inform members what the 70 policy issues to be covered by the modernisation review of public sector terms and conditions will be?
  2. outline the process to be used and the projected timescale over which these issues are to be agreed with employee representatives?
  3. state whether employee representatives will be allowed time away from work to contribute to the process and, if not, why?
  4. identify which of these issues are contractual and therefore requiring negotiation and agreement with public sector representatives, and which are employer policies and can be imposed after consultation?
  5. agree to share the legal advice with employee representatives regarding the extent to which these issues are contractual?
  6. inform members of the extent, if any, of the involvement of Atos in this process?
  7. state whether there is a target for savings to be achieved from this process, and, if so, what that is?

Answer

The Employer met on 21 February with a combined Trade Union Group including the main Paygroups (Teachers, Nurses, Manual Workers, and Civil Servants) to explain the processes and timetables that the Employer hopes to use, working in partnership with Trade Union Colleagues, to reshape the States of Jersey policy framework. The meeting was advised of the content below and I am pleased to share it with States Members.

  1. The review will address the following policies:

 

POLICY GROUP

BATCH

POLICIES COVERED

Pay Protection/Buy-Out

1

Pay Protection, Buy-Out

 

POLICY GROUP

BATCH

POLICIES COVERED

Manpower Control 1 Employment Related

2a

Recruitment and Selection, Recruitment of Temporary Staff, References, Induction, Employment of People Beyond Retirement Age, Employment of Close Relatives, Employment of People with Past Criminal Offences, Employment of Overseas Nationals Conflict of Interests

Manpower Control 2 Other

2b

Redundancy, Redeployment, Secondment, Probation, Increments and Incremental Progression, Succession Planning, Career Management, Retirement, Acting Up, Equality & Diversity, Exit

Flexible Working and Leave

3

Sickness Entitlement and Leave, Annual Leave, Maternity, Adoption, Paternity, Unpaid Leave, Special Leave, Career Break, Inclement Weather , Flexitime, TOIL

Managing Attendance

4

Managing Attendance, Return to Work, Occupational Health, Disclosure of Medical Records, Workplace Stress and Medical Rehabilitation, Managing People during Pandemics.

Allowances, Overtime, etc.

5

Allowances (include First Aid, Mileage, etc.)Overtime, Standby, Call Out.

Collective Disputes & Facilities

6a

Collective Disputes, Facilities

Disciplinary & Grievance

6b

Disciplinary, Grievance, Bullying & Harassment, Investigations, Code of Conduct, Suspensions

Job Evaluation

6c

Job Evaluation

Performance and Capability

7

Performance Management, Capability, Training and Development, Financial Support for Professional Qualifications, Performance Review and Appraisal, Increments and Incremental Progression

Expenses and Over/under Payments

8a

Expenses and Over/under Payments

 

POLICY GROUP

BATCH

POLICIES COVERED

Car Parking

8b

Car Parking

Health & Wellbeing

9

Health and Safety, Drug and Alcohol, Smoke Free Policy, Display Screen Equipment

Transfer of Public Service Employees (TOPSE)

10a

(TUPE)

Reporting Serious Concerns

10b

Whistleblowing'

Political Activities

11

Including retirement benefits and gifts

Employee Recognition

12

Access to Personal Information

13

Data protection in relation to Personal Information

Staff Benefits

14

Promotional Offers, Flexible Benefits

  1. The process to be followed is shown in the table below:

(N.B As stated above, this process has already been shared with TUs and is subject to review depending on the progress of consultations)

 

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN

ESTIMATED TIME TAKEN FOR EACH

TASK

CALENDAR TIME LINE

Preparation Phase

 

Start

1.  Send out information requests to States departments to :

  • confirm adherence to States wide policies/collective agreements on terms and conditions of service, and
  • gain copies of departmental variations where they exist.

0.5 day

 

2.  Collate information on current provisions

1.5days

 

3.  Determine legal position with regard to the legal status of a policy/procedure or a term and condition of service and the obligations on the Employer attached to their revision and implementation.

0.2 day

 

4.  Receive and collate information from departments within a suitable format

0.5 day

+2 weeks

 

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN

ESTIMATED TIME TAKEN FOR EACH

TASK

CALENDAR TIME LINE

5.  Set out current provisions for all public sector pay groups including departmental variations within a format suitable for presentation to departments/pay groups.

1 day

 

6.  Analyse current provisions and determine key points for consideration/ presentation/ consultation/ negotiation in the development of revised provisions.

1 day

 

7.  Undertake best practice research

(E.g. covering UK public sector/"blue chip" companies/IDS/CIPD/ACAS/JACS)

2 days

 

8.  Identify and present gaps between current practice and best practice in a suitable format for presentation to departments/pay groups.

1 day

 

9.  Analyse best practice provisions and determine key points for consideration/ presentation/ consultation/ negotiation in the development of revised provisions.

1 day

+2 weeks

 

Development and Consultation Phase

 

 

10.  Develop 1st draft policy or T&C of S that is jargon free and suitable for a line manager to implement without HR support. In addition, where appropriate, draft process map and FAQs.

2 days

 

11.  Prepare paper work and set up meetings with HR BPs/Line managers/Pay groups. Send out information to attendees of these three groups.

1 day

 

12.  Meet and consult with HR BPs/Line Managers/Pay Groups

1day

 

13.  Collate feedback from HR Business Partners/Line Managers/Pay Groups into a suitable format for presentation to departments/pay groups.

1 day

+2 weeks

14.  Analyse feedback from HR Business Partners/Line Managers/Pay groups

0.5 day

 

15.  Develop 2nd draft policy/procedure or Terms and Conditions of Service and where appropriate process map and FAQs.  

1 day

 

16.  Prepare paper work and set up meetings with HR BPs/Line managers/Pay groups, or send out the information and seek feedback.

1 day

 

17.  Meet and consult with HR BPs/Line Managers/Pay Groups.

1 day

 

18.  Collate feedback from HR Business Partners/Line Managers/Pay Groups into a suitable format for presentation to departments/pay groups

0.5 day

 

19.  Analyse feedback from HR Business Partners/Line Managers/Pay groups

0.5 day

 

 

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN

ESTIMATED TIME TAKEN FOR EACH

TASK

CALENDAR TIME LINE

20.  Develop 3rd and final draft policy/procedure or Terms and Conditions of service and where appropriate process map and FAQs.  

0.5 day

 

21.  Send out final draft for comments.

0.5 day

 

22.  Make any final adjustments to the draft and distribute

0.5 day

 

23.  Give notice of projected implementation date

0.5 day

+ 2 weeks

 

Min. 6 weeks

Notice period

 

24. Notice period for implementation

90 days

 

 

  1. Employee  representatives  are  allowed  time  away  from  work  to  participate  in  the consultative process wherever possible.
  2. & e) Legal advice is currently being sought regarding the contractual status of each of the policies  and  this  information  will  be  shared  with  TU  representatives  as  part  of  the consultation process. This advice will also clarify which are employer policies and can therefore be implemented after consultation.
  1. Atos have not been involved in this process.
  2. At  present,  no savings  target  has  been  assigned  for  the  policies  review  process.  The purpose of the review is to ensure the States of Jersey has in place a consistent, sustainable policy  framework  which  encompasses  good  practice  and  has  a  regard  for  the  future legislative direction of the Island in support of public sector reform.