Harmonisation
The national Framework Agreement includes a requirement for institutions to harmonise the working hours for all staff (excluding Academic) with a defined working week. It also provides an additional opportunity to consider the harmonisation of other terms and conditions but the only express obligation is with regard to working hours.
Harmonisation reflects the statutory requirement for equal pay for work of equal value and will complement the implementation of the single pay and grading structure at the University.
The University of Glasgow currently has various staff groupings on different standard working weeks such as Secretarial and ALC staff on 35 hours, Technical staff on 37 hours and Manual & Ancillary staff on 38 hours. Harmonisation will ensure all staff have the same working week with the expectation that the working week for Manual & Ancillary staff will be reduced. A number of Universities have already harmonised their working hours although the actual hours they have harmonised at varies, reflecting the different starting points.
The University has commenced discussions with Trade Unions, Line Managers and Staff to identify and explore the options to allow harmonisation of the defined working week taking into account the practicalities of harmonised work patterns and the cost implications. Discussions will also seek to minimise the large number of small but sometimes significant differences in the other terms & conditions of employment of the staff at the University.
Updates will appear as and when progress is made on harmonisation.
