THE GOVERNMENT is to end the traditional practice of giving time off to civil servants to cash their pay cheques. Also to be reviewed are the additional privilege days off provided to staff at Christmas and Easter.
The Department of Finance told union leaders yesterday the fortnightly half-hour time-off, initially given to civil servants many years ago before direct electronic lodgments became common, would be eliminated from next month.
This arrangement, known as “banking time”, was ended for new staff in 2003, but remains in place for most Civil Service personnel.
The draft plan for implementing the Croke Park deal in the Civil Service and non-commercial State agencies also hints that traditional privilege days for staff at Christmas and Easter could be removed.
A revised policy on office closures and attendance at holiday periods will be issued in February.
The Department of Finance says its draft consolidated action plan will facilitate a cut in numbers in the public service as well as redeployment of staff and a rationalisation of State agencies.
There is also to be a greater use of shared services between Government departments in areas such as human resources, payroll, pension administration, financial management and information technology. This is expected to involve larger departments providing such services for smaller ones.
Under the plan opening hours for public offices in departments such as the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Environment are to be extended or varied from next year to provide improved customer service.
The Department of Finance says sick leave will be managed more effectively, and it has set a target of reducing the number of days lost by 10 per cent by the end of next year.
By the end of this year all staff will lose one-fifth of a week’s pay for a day of absence. At present lower grades lose one-fifth of weekly pay for absences while higher ranks lose one-seventh. The plan also says measures will be put in place to tackle under-performance.
The document also says there will be a greater use of online services, a streaming of procurement and the introduction of standardised terms and conditions of employment across the public service.
Highly-placed sources said the document given to the unions was currently in the draft stage and further changes could be introduced.