Union Mail – November 2012

Branch Working Arrangements

We have received a number of queries relating to the new branch working arrangements and we’ve highlighted a few of these below.

Most of the questions that have been raised are covered in the Joint Statement and the Questions and Answers (Q&As) and we recommend that members keep copies of these as they are important documents. Employees will shortly be issued with letters of variation to their contractual terms but it is important to read (and keep) the Joint Statement and Q&As alongside these letters because they set out the commitments given about the way in which the arrangements will be implemented in practice.

The Q&As are regularly updated so please make sure you are referring to the latest version (version 4 was issued 30 October 2012).

Unplanned Overtime – can unplanned overtime be claimed if you are required to balance your till after your rostered finish time?

The contractual position is that you are required to complete ‘closing procedures’. This relates to packing away at the end of the day and closing the branch, and if this just takes a few minutes then it won’t qualify as unplanned overtime. However, if you are required to stay late to finish serving a customer and are then required to stay past your rostered finish time to balance your till, this is unplanned overtime and you can claim an overtime payment (or you can choose TOIL if you prefer). Unplanned overtime could also occur in relation to finishing a critical piece of work or where there is a need to investigate a balancing error (and overtime would apply to everyone required to stay past their rostered finish time, including the person who has the error).

NB: Payment (not TOIL) for unplanned overtime is a contractual term and you must not be denied the opportunity to claim this where it is properly due. If employees are denied this we will consider it to be a breach of the agreement between Nationwide and NGSU. Please contact us if this happens to you.

Overtime Budget – my Branch Manager has said that there is no overtime budget and I have to take TOIL now and cannot claim a payment – is this correct?

No – there is still an overtime budget. The most recent internal message sent to ASMs and DSMs from the Branch Network Divisional Directors states: “Although we hope that these changes will allow us to manage costs effectively, we do not have a cost reduction target for these changes and we do fully expect that there will continue to be branches where it is not possible to provide TOIL and where paid overtime will still be required”.

TOIL – can I be made to take TOIL one hour at a time i.e. to spread TOIL for working three hours on a Saturday in one hour slots over three weekdays?

It is not reasonable to expect you to spread the hours worked on a Saturday across three days in one-hour slots. As far as possible TOIL should be taken at a time when it is convenient to you and you are not expected to take it at short notice. TOIL which can’t be planned in within a reasonable time will be paid as overtime.

Number of Saturdays – does the 5 in 9 Saturday rule apply to staff members who were employed on the 8to8 contract?

Yes – the rule is intended to limit the number of Saturdays you are required to work and is not a minimum number you have to work. You can work more if you prefer or less if that suits your branch. If you were employed with Saturday as a normal working day it is expected that this can continue but you can still talk to your BM about changing your working pattern – remember – all employees at Nationwide have the right to submit flexible working requests and we’d expect such a request to be given proper consideration.

Changes to working patterns – we’ve been told that changes to working patterns can be enforced from
1st November – is that correct?

The change to the operating framework (8am-7pm Mon to Fri and 8am to 6pm on Sat) does come into effect from 1 November 2012 but the period of October to December is intended to be a transitional period when discussions about rostering start. The Joint Statement and Q&As are clear – this period is about engagement with staff and is not a race to implement change.

If you feel that changes are being imposed on you immediately without proper consultation or that any of the new terms aren’t being applied as set out in the Joint Statement – please contact us and we will ask your DD to intervene.

Tim Poil
General Secretary

Christmas Eve – Booking Holiday

A number of members have called us regarding the arrangements for booking holiday on Christmas Eve, with branches and most departments closing at 1pm – should they book a half-day or a full-day?

The agreement the Union has reached with HR is that employees booking holiday on Christmas Eve only need to book a half-day (or if you are a part-time employee, a pro-rata half day). This only applies to employees scheduled to be in work on those days.

On New Year’s Eve most areas will be finishing work at 3pm. However, for the purposes of booking holiday this is considered to be a full day.

This applies to Nationwide and Regional Brands.

November Draw Winners

First Prize: £10,696
124574: Edward Goode of Euphoria (NAC)

Second Prize: £5,000
083892: Jacqueline Harris of Crawley

Third Prize: £2,000
084966: John Casper of Brighton

Fourth Prizes: £500
087026: Nicholas Blunt of Pension Fund Members
125010: Johnathan Gibbons of Wakefield Service
076474: Malcolm Gentle of Chester-Le-Street