DHS Factsheet – Negotiation of working hours and rosters

Rosters fit within your agreed ordinary pattern of hours or regular hours agreement (including part time work). Rosters provide you and your supervisor with certainty.

There are three phases in developing rosters; identifying your preferences, developing draft rosters and genuine negotiation, and final rosters including final adjustments (see F8.11 to F8.14 DHS EA for the process).

Changes to rosters once agreed

Sometimes rosters need to change due to unforeseen circumstances. You can request changes or swaps at any stage; such as accommodating late notice for a parent-teacher meeting.

The department uses modelling to predict workflow so your manager needs to give you reasonable notice of proposed changes to agreed rosters, why they need to change, and to genuinely negotiate options affected staff (see F8.15 DHS EA). Where DHS initiates changes to start or finish times that are not agreed by you and less than 14 days notice is given, you are entitled to overtime payments for time before or after your previously agreed start and/or finish time (see F8.16 DHS EA).

When you don’t get what you want

Genuine negotiation does not mean the department has to give you what you want (or vice versa) – it’s about genuine timely engagement with a positive approach to finding options that work for you and the department.

While you are negotiating working hours or a roster, the existing agreed arrangements must stay in place. If after several months, you and your supervisor really cannot agree to working hours, default working hours are a last resort available to you (see F7.10 – F7.11 DHS EA).

Members make it happen - The conditions in your new agreement outstrip all previous conditions. By joining your union and working with your delegate you ensure the conditions you want are the ones you get.

1. Working hours and rosters are genuinely negotiated between you and your direct supervisor.
    
2. Guaranteed one or more planned days off per month.
    
3. You can initiate changes to your roster by swapping with a colleague.
    
4. You have a right to refuse overtime for caring or personal reasons.
    
5. Paid time for preparation (to start work) and pack up (to finish work) – take the time even if your roster is yet to include it!
    
6. L&D time (30 minute blocks) does not include team meetings.
7. Your 5 minute break after 60 minutes screen/ phone time does not include toilet breaks.
    
8. Rostering entitlements in the EA apply now, you don’t need to wait for the policy which is being developed and agreed with CPSU.

For more information, please speak with your delegate or call the Member Service Centre on 1300 137 636. Union members make workplaces better - be part of the solution, join today