Over the past few years, there have been times when Child Protection Staff have been forced to work from home due to office accommodation issues.
These issues have stemmed from:
- Fires and floods as well as
- Unhygienic conditions, including issues of mold in local offices.
Your Departmental Committee Delegates and the PSA have been advocating for the application of Clause 43 Room at Home Used as Office of the Crown Employees (Public service Conditions of employment) Reviewed Award 2009.
- Room at Home Used as Office
43.1 Where no Departmental office is provided in a particular location – Where it is impractical to provide an office in a particular location, employees stationed in such a location may be required to use a spare room at their home as an office. In such cases, the Department will be responsible for providing furniture, telephone and other equipment, as required. In addition, an allowance as specified in Item 12 of Table 1 – Allowances of Part B, Monetary Rates is payable for the use of a room at home as an office.
43.2 Where an office exists in a particular location – Where a Departmental office or offices already exist in a particular location but the employee and the manager agree that the employee could work from home on a short term or longer term basis, the arrangement will be negotiated in accordance with the provisions of the Flexible Work Practices, Policy and Guidelines. The allowance set out in subclause 43.1 of this clause will not apply in these circumstances.
43.3 Requirements – Arrangements under subclauses 43.1 or 43.2 of this clause will be subject to:
43.3.1 a formal agreement being reached in respect of the hours to be worked; and
43.3.2 the work health and safety, provision of equipment requirements and any other relevant conditions specified in Part 2, Section 7 Working from Home in the Flexible Work Practices, Policy and Guidelines.
The Room at Home Used as Office allowance applies when no Departmental office is available in a location and staff are required to use a spare room at home as an office. Ballina and Lismore are recent examples, where office conditions became unavailable or unsuitable following natural disasters.
For example, the allowance may apply when a Department of Communities and Justice office is closed due to a natural disaster and there is no suitable alternative office within a reasonable distance. In Ballina and Lismore, affected staff had to work from spare rooms in their homes because they could not access a Department of Communities and Justice office.
Department of Communities and Justice has acknowledged that staff in these circumstances are entitled to the allowance. Department of Communities and Justice has advised the PSA that letters will be sent to staff from the Ballina, Lismore and Goonellabah offices who have been identified as eligible.
If you believe you are entitled to the allowance but have not received a letter, please let us know.
Contacts
Member Support Centre
; 1800 772 679