Recently we discovered that the Dept. wished to remove the right that we have to apply for Term Time Working, and also to force those on such contracts back to more standard contracts. They suggested that Unpaid Leave should be taken, a suggestion problematic for many reasons, not least because annualised pay is part of the Term Time Working scheme.Term Time Working was a legacy term and condition of service from when we moved Dept.’s and one might wonder why they wanted to remove a best practice in the field of family friendly policies. It seems that our pay computer cannot handle the working pattern and – despite the fact that there was a manual workaround in place – it really was a case of “Computer says ‘no!’”
Last week we got word, from PCS Group, that these plans have been dropped and today it was confirmed to me that a member of staff who had applied for the scheme have had their application accepted. It has to be said that our HR business partners were putting pressure on the centre, kudos and applause to them. The Branch had written to anyone and everyone with any influence and leverage. Our thanks to the Group officers who got involved in this on our behalf.
Incidentally, we did write to a local MP about this issue but, to date, have had no reply. One can only give the benefit of the doubt and assume that they were plugging away, behind the scenes, on behalf of their constituents, and that the reason we have had no reply is because the MP is so busy fighting our corner.
Illustrative picture from the TV show Little Britain shows David Walliams as Carol Beer. I would have linked to Mr Walliams’ website but our work computers block it as a “celebrity site” – another example of “Computer says ‘No!’”
