Excess Travel– Entitlements

Under Clause 27 of the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009, an employee who is directed to travel on official business outside of normal hours of duty will be compensated in accordance with the below formula or by taking equivalent time off in lieu.

These provisions only apply to situations outside of Major Incident Overtime Conditions. Travel for these incidents is to be in line with Clause 15 of the Crown Employees (Rural Fire Service) Award.

Excess Travel Formula:

For purposes of excess travel clause 7.9 of the Crown Employees (Rural Fire Service) Award applies: ‘Overtime is all time approved or directed to be worked before 7.30am or after 6.00pm on a normal workday between Monday to Friday, or on weekends and public holidays at the direction of the Commissioner.’

Eligibility Criteria

You are eligible for Excess Travel if:

• You were directed by your Department Head (or delegate) to travel on official business outside your usual working hours to perform duty at a location other than your normal headquarters.
• Travel was outside of the bandwidth as identified in Clause 7.9 of the Crown Employees (Rural Fire Service) Award
• Travel was outside your usual working hours (for working days).
• OR was on a non-working day (Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday)
• The period of extra travel must be more than 30 minutes on any one day to qualify.

 Exclusions:

Exclusions under 27.3  of the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009 apply, specifically:

• Travel is not your normal commute from home to HQ.
• Not travel where less than 30 minutes excess on any one day.
• Not travel associated with transfer if you had special leave.
• Not travel time between 11:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. if sleeping facilities were provided.
• Travel must be by the most practical and direct route.
• Not working on a ship where accommodation and meals were provided.
• Not if your salary includes an “all incidents of employment” component.
• Not time within your flex-time bandwidth (if you have flex-time arrangements).
• Not for overseas travel.

Example Scenarios

1. Staff member flying to Sydney for a meeting
   • Normal start time: 9:00 AM.
   • Flight departure: 6:30 AM.
   • Return home: 5:00 PM.
   • Eligible claims:
     • Excess Travel applies from 06:30am to 07:30am
2. Staff member travelling for training
   • Staff member must be at the State Training Academy for a training event.
   • Staff member must leave home at 06:00am to be at the Academy prior to training event
   • Eligible claims:
     • Staff is eligible for excess travel between 06:00am and 07:30am
3. Staff member returning home from training
   • Staff member must be at the State Training Academy for a training event.
   • Staff member leaves academy and returns home at 06:45pm
   • Eligible Claims:
     • Excess travel not applicable as travel is under 30 mins

Claiming Excess Travel

To claim your Excess Travel:

1. Ensure appropriate approval for excess travel is received prior to travel
2. Complete Excess Travel Claim
   • SAP → Employee Services→ Overtime & Attendance Request→ Select Excess Travel Time from drop down

Annualised Conditions Allowance Recipients

The Crown Employees (Rural Fire Service) Award 2016 allows for members to receive an Annualised Conditions Allowance, of which some staff may receive an Excess Travel component should confirm the hours of excess travel required as part of their component. Neither the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009 or the NSW Rural Fire Services P3.2.3 Annualised Conditions Allowance outline the Excess Travel Component.

Further Assistance

Please contact your Area Command People and Business Team or Member Services

If you still have questions, please contact your local Delegate or the PSA direct on 1800 772 679.

Contacts

PSA staff

Michael Sinclair Industrial Officer

Graydon Plumridge Organiser

RFS departmental committee delegates

Chair
Jim Killen

Vice Chair
Ivan Perkins

Secretary
Cameron Gray

Vice Secretary
John Osmond

Delegates
Ben Plummer
Bruce Hansen
Lindsey Flynn
Brenton Pumpa
Cameron Gray
Guy Duckworth
Daniel Ainsworth
David Millsteed
Scott Hoy
Tim Allen
Brad Stewart
Adrian May