This is the twenty-second in a series of fact sheets to assist CSIRO union members better understand and enforce our rights at work.
The source of these rights is contained in the new CSIRO Enterprise Agreement
2011-2014 (attached at right).
Which part of the EA covers Flexible Working Hours?
Clause 80 covers flexible working hours/flextime scheme. Staff are strongly
encouraged to read this Clause in full. This Know Your Rights fact sheet deals
with the flextime scheme for full–time staff. The provisions for part-time staff
will be covered in a future Know Your Rights fact sheet.
What are my Hours of Duty?
Full-time staff must average 73 hours and 30 minutes a fortnight (Clause
80e).
Am I required to record my attendance to access flextime?
To access formal flextime provisions, staff at CSOF Levels 1 to 4 are
required to record daily attendance, unless offered exemption from this
requirement by the Delegate (e.g. Chief). Staff at CSOF Level 5 and above are
exempt from formal flextime provisions and recording attendance, but can access
informal flexible attendance arrangements when agreed with their line manager
(Clauses 80a and c).
Do formal flextime provisions apply to all staff at CSOF Levels 1 to 4?
No. They do not apply to shift workers or casual staff. Access to flextime
provisions are also subject to operational requirements, but are standard
practice at CSIRO and expected to apply in most situations (Clause 80b).
What are ‘Attendance bandwidth’, ‘Core time’, ‘Flexible periods’ and
‘Standard hours’?
The ‘Attendance bandwidth’ is a span of hours of ten hours duration between
the hours of 6am and 6pm Monday to Friday. The bandwidth along with standard
hours, core time, flexible periods and lunch period, can vary from site to site
and between different categories of staff. Any change to the bandwidth must
occur in consultation with staff and the Staff Association.
Within the bandwidth, a period of not more than four hours will be designated
as ‘Core time’ during which attendance is mandatory unless leave or flex leave
is approved. Core time can comprise one or two time blocks.
The time outside the core time, but within the bandwidth is deemed to be
‘Flexible periods’ and individual staff have the scope to vary their attendance
pattern within these hours, subject to work requirements.
‘Standard hours’ is a fixed period within the bandwidth of 7 hours 21 minutes
plus at least 30 minutes for lunch. In practice, for most staff, standard hours
are used as the hours to be entered when taking leave (Clause 80d).
What is the entitlement to accrue and use flex credits?
Flex credit is the time worked in excess of 7 hours and 21 minutes each day
within the bandwidth. A maximum of 10 hours flex credit may be accumulated in
each pay fortnight unless otherwise approved by the Delegate following a
recommendation by a line manager. A maximum of 60 hours flex credit may be
accrued in total (Clause 80f).
If a staff member applies to access their leave credit, the onus is on CSIRO
to approve the leave, but if refused, there is a maximum of 3 months to provide
an opportunity for the leave to be taken.
What is the entitlement to accrue flex debit?
Flex debit is the time worked short of 7 hours 21 minutes each day within the
bandwidth. The maximum allowable flex debit at the completion of any pay
fortnight is 10 hours. Any debits in excess of 10 hours at the end of any pay
fortnight period must be covered by submission of a leave application (Clauses
80f and h).
Is travel within and outside the bandwidth both regarded as work?
Yes. Business related travel within the bandwidth is regarded as time on duty
for the purposes of flex credit accrual (Clause 80j) or accessing informal
flexible attendance arrangements. Travel outside the bandwidth, when approved by
a line manager, is also regarded as time on duty (Clause 33e).
