26 September 2023

IRELAND: Board rejects equality in PS leave

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IRELAND

Middle-ranking Irish Public Servants appointed after 1 July 2013 have lost a claim to be entitled to similar flexi-leave arrangements as longer-serving colleagues.

The Civil Service Arbitration Board recommended the Assistant Principal Officers should not have a right to accrue and take leave under flexible working arrangements as sought by their trade union.

In a ruling on a dispute between the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Board said no concession should be made for the reintroduction of flexi-leave for such PS employees.

Flexible working hours and the right to accrue flexi-leave were withdrawn for all Assistant Principals except for staff already accessing them under the Haddington Road Agreement in 2013.

The AHCPS subsequently submitted a claim for access for newly appointed Assistant Principals to flexible working arrangements in 2016, which was successful, apart from the allowance to accumulate flexi-leave.

In a submission to the Board, the trade union said the removal of flexi-leave was made for ideological reasons.

The union said the policy specifically targeted management grades as though family friendly policies should not apply to them and it contravened natural justice by not affecting any other grades.

Department officials claimed the measure was necessary as Assistant Principals were in critical posts for ensuring quality service delivery to the public and the use of flexi-leave was not appropriate for such a grade.

They pointed out Assistant Principals also differed from lower grades as they were not eligible for overtime.

The Department said it expected Assistant Principals should have sufficient autonomy to manage their own working time in fulfilling the responsibilities of their role.

Dublin, 7 September 2019

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