‘Guidance’ on Flexible Work: Dispute continues as Legal Aid reveal its true intentions
Unfortunately, the Dispute with Legal Aid continues. We are disappointed to report that, rather than progress being made, Legal Aid has decided to escalate this Dispute.
In our last update to members, we reported that, “The guidance refers to attending their principal place of work a minimum of 60 per cent of their working time, this is a guide and not a mandated requirement.”
Legal Aid has now decided that 60 per cent of attendance at a workplace is required.
Apart from the fact that this is a clear “about face” from Legal Aid, this is an insult to members and Delegates who acted in good faith during the consultation about the Flexible Work Policy.
Given this backflip by Legal Aid how can members trust that your individual circumstances are taken into account?
Why is Legal Aid so insistent on forcing members to attend an office location for 60 per cent of the time when other NSW Government Departments such as the Department of Communities and Justice require no more than a maximum of 50 per cent attendance?
The “Guidance” does not change or override the Flexible Work Policy and members should apply for individual arrangements that suit your individual circumstances without regard to the Guidance document.
The PSA will support all members who have flexible work arrangements denied to them by Legal Aid because of the Guidance document including, where necessary, seeking assistance of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.
Next steps
We call on Legal Aid to withdraw the Guidance document.
We further call on Legal Aid to cease any changes to members’ current working pattern until this dispute is resolved.
A meeting with Senior Officers of Legal Aid, your elected Delegates and PSA staff will be held before the end of the week to try and resolve this Dispute.
Members will be further updated on progress next Monday.