NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) staff find themselves in a bit of a pickle. A record-breaking flood event has occurred in the Hunter and Mid-North Coast regions, and NSW RA staff have already spent the past several weeks supporting disaster-affected communities. This involves extensive recovery operations with long hours, often in regional locations.

NSW RA staff have provided the PSA with concerns about forfeited flex because of administering previous lengthy recovery operations. The most obvious alleviant would be for the suspension of the flexible working hours agreement and despite several calls from the PSA (simply because of the magnitude of these natural emergencies which require extensive recovery operations), NSW RA has been reluctant.

The PSA has made it clear to NSW RA that if staff forfeit flex hours because of their involvement with recovery operations, then NSW RA isn’t living up to its requirements under the flextime provisions. NSW RA has the ability to suspend flex time, and pay overtime when staff work more than 7 hours. This avoids staff having to forfeit flex time due to working on recovery operations. NSW RA staff going over and above for their communities and shouldn’t be ripped off in the process.

The PSA has asked NSW RA for the facts and figures about forfeited flex hours, especially during the times of recovery operations where flex is not suspended.

To help monitor and build a case for the suspension of the flex time arrangements, PSA Members are encouraged to provide details if they have forfeited flex hours due to their involvement in recovery operations. These can be provided to PSA Industrial Officer, Shane Howes, on or via your local workplace delegates.