Members have raised questions with the Branch on specific points. We have raised these with PCS DWP Group and have received answers, the details are published below:

Question 1:

Direct Planning (capacity planning), this has been tried before and failed in this area, what is being done differently this time to make it work?

Answer 1:

This is something that PCS told the employer would not work and was unnecessary and over-complicated. it was kept in the offer at the insistence of the Permanent Secretary

Question 2:

 If you work I work Mon-Fri but diff hours on diff days. Are you automatically expected to work the same amount of hours on a Saturday as the day in the week that you are now taking off instead of Saturday?

Answer 2:

Not necessarily. This level of detail would be for local discussion.

Question 3:

 Once you have agreed your 6 months in advance, can any annual leave or flexi days be taken or are you stuck to the regime planned?

Some people do not book holidays to nearer the time etc.

Answer 3:

This is unclear how and when leave is impacted on the 6 month plan. One of the reasons why it is unworkable

Question 4:

On flexible working hours and the set end time or start, are you expected to always complete your contracted hours each day without leeway to going early, starting late etc?

Answer 4:

No. At the flexible end of the day you start, or finish, up to 3 hours 42 minutes late, or early, respectively.

Question 5:

Certain hours if part time for medical reason. Can the employer change these hours if you already have a pattern but not set hours i.e. if your disability is such that you physically cannot work past a certain time.

Answer 5:

There should be no change to these arrangements

Question 6:

European working directive. How will that be affected with the alternate days/Saturdays, can you come in on a day off if weekday especially if overtime is available/ being offered? Will the working week be mon-sun or sat-fri or others.

Answer 6:

You can choose to work overtime on a non-working weekday, if it is offered and in line with the limits of the Directive