37-hour week – Briefing 2

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Reduction in working week – agenda for change staff – Briefing No.2

Further to the communications issued on 27 March 2024, see below key points in accordance with NHS Circular PCS(AFC)2024/2 Reduction in the working week for Agenda for Change staff in NHS Scotland.

To support the reduction in working hours, ePayroll, SSTS and eESS have been updated from 1 April with the new full-time hours and pro-rata part-time hours.

Where the reduction in the working week can be safely implemented managers should do so.  Managers will need to:

  • Update SSTS rosters to reflect revised working patterns (contact SSTS team if new roster codes are required ssts.team@ggc.scot.nhs.uk)
  • Time can be accumulated and taken from the roster/shift pattern where it is mutually agreed and on a pre-planned basis i.e. working reduced contracted hours each week or averaging contracted hours over the roster period.  The reduction in working hours should not be accrued as TOIL.

For areas that are currently unable to reduce the working week staff should continue to work their existing working patterns and paid a RWW Transitional Allowance.  Managers will need to:

  • Enter excess / overtime onto SSTS each week covering the gap between pre-April 2024 contracted hours and reduced working hours – use the code “Addtl Hours – Reduced Working Week” when adding these hours.
  • The additional hours should be added to SSTS on a Monday to Friday shift between 9am and 5pm, even if the member of staff only works nights or weekends, and not on a day that is designated as a public holiday.
  • This must be entered onto SSTS weekly and authorised in the normal manner.
  • These hours must also be entered onto SSTS for periods of annual leave and sick leave.
  • A working group chaired by the Director of Nursing for Acute Services is being established to oversee areas where we are currently unable to safely implement the new working week either because of a safety or staff wellbeing issue to ensure we have can identify a timeline to implement the reduced working week as soon as is practicable.  Further information about this working group will follow.


Recruitment

  • Full-time posts should now be advertised at 37 hours per week.
  • Part-time posts will not automatically be advertised at pre-April 2024 hours, consideration should be given to advertising at pro-rata reduced hours, taking account of the department’s budget.

For any queries in relation to eESS or eRostering, please raise a query via ServiceNow at: https://nhsnss.service-now.com/

For any payroll queries, please email epayroll.lanarkshire@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk