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:

The working pattern tool must be set to allow fixing start and end, if the individual chooses, as per the agreement:

1. Collectively, employees working patterns will need to match the team staffing requirement, reflecting customer demand. Colleagues will endeavour to achieve this match by negotiation within the team; but the employment contract will ultimately enable a manager to require a colleague to work at a specific time on a specific day. But it is agreed for any employee:
   

• not to fix both the start and the end of the same day, unless the employee chooses to do so;

This is because without this facility you cannot access the 7:30 am start and commit to work late. The tool only allows for one fixed time therefore it is as if there are only half the staff in when it calculates percentages in (it calculates on the one fixed end only) ie if they fix at the start of the day rather than the finish, the preference tool doesn’t count the late as being in attendance, therefore not meeting that tent pole. Not meeting the tent pole then means another request for people to fill those slots, even though there are people in the office.

Answer

I can add this to our proposed changes.