Easter RD problems

Allocation problems over Easter are occurring in a number of Resources areas.

This follows similar problems over the Christmas period, a number of which were changed to a satisfactory state after the intervention of Branch Representatives.

Most of the problems centre on the allocation of RD (Release from Duty) days. These are Public or Corporation Holidays on which the related Public Holiday Leave is effectively allocated - in some areas these are indicated by PH or PHL.

RD days are detailed in section 9e of the Resources Consolidated Terms and Conditions, and members should ensure the following is implemented over Easter:

[9e] Public Holiday Leave

1. Staff will normally be released from duty on the 8 Public Holidays and 1 Corporation day in the year. A release from duty will have the same status as a Protected Day Off and will add 1 day or 8 hours to that accounting period's total.
2. Where Public or Corporation holidays are close but separated by one or two days (i.e. Christmas period or Easter weekend) every attempt will be made to schedule the intervening period as contiguous off duty days for those staff who have been released from duty on each of the Public or Corporation holidays concerned.
3. For single Public and Corporation holidays every effort will be made to ensure that staff are not required for duty for the entire Public holiday weekend. Where possible a contiguous weekend relevant to the Public or Corporation holiday will be scheduled as a pair of contiguous off duty days, for those staff who have been released from duty on a single Public or Corporation holiday (i.e. August and May Public holidays).
4. Where possible, no hours will be scheduled on the evening before Christmas or New Years day for those staff who have been released from duty on these Public holidays.
5. If staff are sick on a public holiday on which they were scheduled to work, 8 hours or 1 day (or the scheduled hours for UPA0 and UPA1 staff) will be credited as normal, subject to agreed statement K3a (Sickness absence and statutory sick pay)
6. In any other circumstances, the worked hours (if any) will be totalled as normal and a day's Public Holiday Leave will be available to take at a later date. This must be taken within 12 months of the day on which it was earned, with no payment available in lieu.

Additionally ESPG recommends the following is good allocation practice in connection with the above section:

1. Staff who are not required for duty on a Public or Corporation holiday will be released from duty (RD).
2. RDs should be indicated in duty schedule systems at the three week point beforehand.
3. Allocations should ensure that undesignated days are not scheduled on Public or Corporation Holidays (undesignated days are shown as either blank or ODV depending on local duty schedule system).

Members should also be aware that the allocation of RD days should not effect the number of Off Duty (OD or ODX) or Protected Days off (PD or ODP) in the programme weeks concerned.

RDs are not instead of OD/PDs - although they have the status of PDs, RDs are to give you the PHL (Public Holiday Leave) effectively on the day concerned which is why RDs generate the time sheet equivalent of leave.

Members having problems with any of the above should contact their local ESGP Representative as soon as possible.