PSA response to Treasury’s proposed structure and senior executive implementation
Timing
The PSA requested an additional two weeks to respond to the proposed new structure. Treasury accepted.
The proposed timing is tight and needs to be managed carefully given Budget workloads on affected staff during the assessment and selection process.
Workloads and work value in new structure
The PSA notes the structure is not yet fleshed out with workloads/staffing and work value levels for individual SES roles. The PSA welcomes Treasury’s commitment to providing this information on a timely and transparent basis.
We requested further information and consultation on workload and staffing issues, as the structure is developed and well before it is implemented.
We requested further information and consultation on work value for new SES roles, and how differing work value roles will be managed in the assessments and selection process.
The PSA notes Treasury is commitment to ensure SES Band 1 officers retain appropriate capacity for policy analysis and stakeholder management. The PSA also notes Treasury is commitment to transparency on this aspect of job design, and requested ongoing information and consultation as SES role descriptions are developed.
Work value and remuneration, including conditions
Treasury has committed to transparency on work value and remuneration. There are a number of issues of detail to resolve:
- Overall remuneration levels and policy including access to the discretionary range above minimum salary for work value points
- Specific remuneration issues such as superannuation and TTO 12 days per year. Treasury wishes to deal with these questions on a cross-Treasury basis (i.e. remuneration for existing conditions regardless of which previous award applied).
The PSA requested ongoing consultation on remuneration.
Assessment process
The PSA notes Treasury commitment to a transparent and accountable process. Further, Treasury has agreed to provide information – and consultation if required – on how the assessment process will cover different capabilities and skills sets, and how these will be matched to specific roles.
The PSA requested ongoing consultation on the assessment process.
Redundancy and VR options
Treasury is not contracting headcount in this SEI process and it is possible there will be a few redundancies as a result of SEI.
Treasury intends to declare 1 November 2016 as the transition date, and to deal with individual cases that warrant additional time on an exemption basis.
The PSA has requested that where there is a VR or potential VR, the process be that the individual and her/his manager agree on a date based on individual circumstances and workload/transition needs. This should apply where the individual:
- declines to participate in the assessment and selection process or is advised she/he is not suitable for the assessment and selection process
- participates in the assessment and selection process but is not successful
- is successful in the selection process but does not enter an SES contract.
The PSA has requested further consultation to clarify details of arrangements for VRs.
