School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

The University is committed to the implementation of work practices that find the best possible match between the interests of UNSW and those of staff members. It recognises that benefits flow to the School from flexible work arrangements and these arrangements are available to all members of the School's professional and technical staff.

Flex-time is a system whereby employees may work flexible starting and finishing times within the appropriate span of hours applicable to their category of employment. Flex-time is available to all members of the School's professional and technical staff and allows them, in consultation with their relevant supervisor, to:

vary start and finish times within the flexible working hours bandwidth;
accumulate additional hours;
take off full or part days at a mutually agreed time.

The UNSW (General Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2006 makes provision for professional and technical staff members to work flexible start and finish times and/or work more than the number of ordinary hours of work to accumulate flex-time hours which may then be taken as time off work at a later stage mutually agreed between them and their relevant supervisor.

Accrued flex-time hours will be equal to the period of time actually worked and will not attract shift loading, overtime payments or other penalties. Overtime will not normally be paid for time worked within the flexible working hours bandwidth.

The ordinary hours of work and span of hours for the majority of classifications within the professional and technical staff in the School is 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday to Friday and 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday.

Staff members may work varied hours between the core hours of work stated above. Therefore, staff members should commence work each day between 8:00 am and 11:00 am and finish work between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Exceptional circumstances should be discussed and approved beforehand with relevant supervisors.

The following policy will apply in the School with effect from September 1, 2008.

Flex-time is subject to the operational requirements of the School and may only be taken in consultation with and with the prior approval of the relevant supervisor.
Flex-time may only be taken as time off work at a time mutually agreed upon between the staff member and relevant supervisor.
Staff members wishing to qualify for flex-time are required to complete timesheets on a daily basis. Time sheets are located in the School's General Office (room 108).
Work performed as flex-time is considered to be ordinary time and will not attract penalty rates.
A staff member who has permission to work flex-time and who works in excess or outside of the prescribed ordinary hours of work will not be paid overtime for those hours worked.
Staff members are encouraged and normally expected to take 1 hour for lunch. The minimum time for a lunch break is 30 minutes.
The maximum total number of flex-hours that may be accumulated per month is 21 (3 working days). (A total of 7 flex-hours is equivalent to 1 day.) Flex-hours in excess of 21 are to be negotiated with relevant supervisors.
A maximum of 14 flex-hours (2 consecutive working days) may be taken per month.
Staff members may take flex-time in conjunction with periods of annual leave.
The annual accrual period will be from January 1 to December 31 each year. Staff members should not have more than 21 accrued flex-hours at the cut-off date of December 31. Any flex-hours in excess of 21 after the cut-off date will be forfeited.
Staff members on fixed-term contracts are eligible to participate in flex-time arrangements. Part-time staff members are eligible for flex-time on a pro-rata basis.
Upon cessation of employment, any accrued flex-time hours will be excluded from termination payments.

Philip Mathew
Acting Head of School
December 15 , 2008