The purpose of this circular is to provide an update from the members meetings held on the 15th January 2009 and to let members know the present position regarding a couple of other issues ongoing in Helpline at the moment.
First Class and Flexible
Firstly we want to thank those members involved in the First Class & Flexible Pilot for attending the meetings and contributing such constructive and valuable comments. PCS locally understands the critical nature of actually engaging with members and seeking their views to ensure our resources are focussed on what members actually want us to achieve.
Members will know from previous circulars that Senior Helpline Management have started a consultation exercise with us with regard to their proposal that Helpline staff will be invited to voluntarily change their working patterns to the proposed “First Class and Flexible” scheme. We welcome any move that would enhance flexibility for our members but we had concerns as to whether the scheme delivers what it says it does since the “flexibility” could seem to reflect the employer’s needs rather than that of members.
On the whole members were supportive of the new First Class & Flexible way of working and would like to retain access to those arrangements. They had found the degree of flexibility offered, whilst sometimes limited, to be welcome in helping them balance their work and life needs. There were a few areas of concern highlighted particularly around potential different practises in different rooms and also late lunch times. Members also thought it important that the terms of the scheme and its implications with regards to individuals’ contracts need to be made absolutely crystal clear so that staff can understand exactly what First Class & Flexible meant to them as individuals.
We will now be looking to meet with Senior Helpline Management to take the issue forward with the safeguards members have raised with us. If we need to meet members again to discuss further then we will do so.
Scheduled Breaks
We have previously informed you that Senior Management were looking at imposing scheduled breaks rather than letting staff have the flexibility to choose when they have a break. They suggest that because staff can take breaks according to their individual needs they may be losing a few calls for very short periods of time. We believe these restrictions on your flexibility are unnecessary and we have asked Senior Management to provide more substantial information detailing any problem, if indeed there is one, so we can take forward discussions with them. We did also say that Senior Management could suggest to staff when they would like them to take breaks but that there would be no obligation for staff to take the breaks at the suggested time. This was made clear to Senior Management on the understanding that further discussions would take place with us.
Unfortunately it is clear from feedback from members that Senior Management seem to have adopted a macho attitude and are telling members they must take breaks when they are scheduled to do so. This is against the spirit of what Helpline Management agreed to; therefore we have to spell out to members what has actually been agreed with us. Until our discussions with Senior Management are concluded the position is that line management may suggest to you when they would prefer you to take your break, however you are under no obligation to take your break at that time.
Any instances of coercion or bullying should be reported to us.
Once discussions are concluded we will meet members if it is necessary to discuss further.
Annual Leave
PCS has had discussions with Helpline Management previously about trying to set up as fair and equitable system of allocating Annual Leave as possible. It has been suggested to us that some members are being denied days leave because a 15 or 30 minute slot of time during the day could be over the Helpline Annual Leave allocation and that some members have been asked to come into work for 15 minutes in order to get their days leave. This is clearly nonsense. If members are refused leave because of these types of poor management then please let us know.
Our Conditions
PCS are prepared to work with Helpline Management to improve members’ conditions and jobs and working life. We are not prepared to sacrifice hard won flexibilities and conditions. We will keep you up to date with developments.
If you are not a member please consider joining your colleagues protecting your conditions of service by filling in the form found here.
