Conditions applying in common to all trades and services staff

This Part shall apply in common to all trades and services staff except where otherwise expressly provided.

Section 5 - Leave of Absence and Holidays

58. Voluntary Reduced Working Year

58.1 The voluntary reduced working year scheme is intended to provide flexibility in Employment for staff members with family responsibilities and for staff who wish to extend their leave options for personal reasons. The scheme is to be available to all staff members, except casual staff.

58.2 The reduced working year scheme is to be a voluntary scheme and staff may apply through their Head of Administrative Unit, to the Divisional Director (Student and Staff Services) for approval. Approval will be balanced against operational requirements of the work unit. The University reserves the right to decline any application.

58.3 A staff member may apply to reduce his/her current working year by multiples of two weeks to a maximum of eight weeks in order to correspondingly increase access to additional leave. The staff member's salary will be reduced by a proportionate amount. Staff members working in accordance with this arrangement will receive their reduced annual salary across the 52-week period and will have access to the additional weeks of paid leave per annum accrued over the same period. This additional leave will not attract annual leave loading.

58.4 Staff participation in the scheme is voluntary. No staff members currently employed on a Full-time basis shall be required to work according to a reduced working year scheme, or be transferred to another position to enable the reduced working year scheme to be implemented without his/her agreement.

58.5 All annual leave accrued and leave arising through the operation of this clause during the twelve (12) month period for which approval to participate in the scheme has been given, must be taken during that 12 month period. The provisions of clause 40.9 shall not apply to this accrued leave.

58.6 Leave accrued by a staff member prior to converting to the scheme will be balanced as at the date immediately prior to conversion and will be available to the staff member at the rate at which it accrued. All leave entitlements which accrue during the term of a staff member's participation in the scheme are paid at the reduced rate, except for periods of long service leave taken during the period of participation in the scheme, which will be paid at the staff member's average fraction of Employment over the leave accrual period.

58.7 A staff member shall be entitled to take leave accrued under this scheme at a time determined by the staff member provided at least three months' written notice is given to the staff member's supervisor prior to the taking of such leave. In the absence of such written notice, the staff member shall apply to take leave and such application shall be approved on the basis of the operating requirements of the work unit.

58.8 The term of the reduced scheme will be subject to negotiation between the staff member and the University. Variation of the agreed term (i.e. to lessen or lengthen the term) may be initiated by either party, subject to three months' notice. However, in exceptional circumstances (e.g. demonstrated financial hardship) and with the agreement of the University a staff member may be allowed to return to Full-time Employment by giving four weeks' notice in writing.

58.9 A staff member with an excess leave balance as defined in clause 40 in relation to annual leave and clause 49 in relation to long service leave, will not be permitted to enter into or remain a participant in the scheme.

58.10 A staff member may elect to continue to contribute superannuation payments at the Full-time amount or to reduce payments to reflect the reduction in annual salary, whilst participating in the scheme. The contributions payable by the University shall similarly reflect the Full-time or other basis at which the staff member elects to pay as the case may be, subject to the provisions of the relevant superannuation scheme.