Anglo-Australian Observatory

Terms and Conditions 

Anglo-Australian Telescope Board Enterprise Agreement 2007-2010
Terms and Conditions for Fixed Term Astronomers
Terms and conditions for AAO Fellows
Discretionary Allowances for Staff (Other Than Research Astronomers) Recruited Overseas
AAO Pay Rates

Plain English Guide to
Terms and Conditions of Service

1. Introduction

The terms and conditions of service for all employees of the AAO Board are those contained in the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board Enterprise Agreement 2007-2010. Fixed term research astronomers have additional terms and conditions as set out in Terms and Conditions for Fixed Term Astronomers. The AAO Fellowship has its own terms and conditions.

2. Location

Officers may be required to work at Epping or Siding Spring or such other locations as the AAO may require from time to time.

3. Hours of Duty and Flextime

The normal working hours for all staff are 36³/₄ per week. Some staff are eligible to participate in the flextime scheme (those employed under Levels 1 to Level 6).

Flexible Working Hours Scheme: This flextime scheme allows certain staff to start and finish work at times of their own choosing within set periods at either end of a working day. The main features of flextime are:

Bandwidth and Span of Hours: The span of hours is 6.00 am to 6.00 pm in which a flextime bandwith of 08.00 to 18.00 has been set. You can start and finish work any time within this period and are able to accure flextime for any time worked over 7.21 hours on each day. (7 hours, 35 minutes.) Hours worked outside the approved bandwidth may not be claimed for flextime purposes.

Core Times (the times when you must be at work): 09.30 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 16.00.

Lunch Break: Your lunch break must be taken between 12.00 and 14.00 and should be be not less than 30 minutes and not more than 2 hours.

Flex sheets: If you participate in the flextime scheme, you must fill in a flex form. The Personnel Officer will supply you with an electronic version.

A credit of up to 60 hours per 3 month period may be carried over. The maximum debit that can be accrued per fortnight is 10 hours. 

For the flexible working hours scheme to operate effectively, supervisors and staff need to accept fully the responsibilities in maintaining satisfactory levels of service and efficiency. Staff are required to comply with their supervisor’s directions regarding hours of attendance.

Home Based or Remote Working is an arrangement that can be proposed by either a staff member or the Board and must have the approval of the Director. The work to be performed must be appropriate in terms of content, interaction with other staff and must be appropriately supervised. Each application will be treated on its merits but should not be used as a substitute for dependent care. 

4. Recording of Attendance

All officers eligible for flextime and paid overtime must enter in the attendance record provided at the time of his/her arrival for duty the actual time of arrival, and at the time of his/her departure form duty the actual time of departure.

5. Overtime

Officers whose base salary exceeds the top of the salary range applying to an Officer Level 4 are not entitled to the payment of overtime or penalty rates. For those Officers who are eligible for overtime, where attendance beyond the normal hours of duty occurs, prior approval must be obtained from the officer authorised to approve overtime before overtime payments can be made. The rate of overtime payments Monday to Friday is time and half, and on Saturday it is time and half for the first three hours and double time thereafter except where an officer is on a rostered shift on a Saturday he/she is entitled to overtime at double time. Sunday duty is all double time. Named public holidays are paid at the rate of double time and a half. Where an officers is required to perform overtime duty, and such time is not continuous with ordinary duty, the minimum overtime payment payable for each separate attendance shall be for four hours at the prescribed overtime rate (see also para 6 below). After working overtime staff are entitled to a break of eight hours and reasonable travelling time before recommencing normal duties.

6. Coonabarabran Allowance

All officers who reside in the Coonabarabran District are entitled to a district allowance. An employee is only entitled to approximately half that district allowance if her/his spouse is also in receipt of a district allowance from her/his employer.

7.  Shift workers

Seven-day shift workers receive an additional week of recreation leave if they work ten Sundays in any one year. If they work less than ten Sundays they are entitled to an additional one half day’s leave for each Sunday worked.

8. Meal Allowance

Normally a meal allowance is payable for overtime performed up to and beyond the prescribed meal periods - 7.00am to 9.00am; 12 noon to 2.00pm; 6.00pm to 7.00pm; and midnight to 1.00am.

9. Payment of Salary

Salaries are paid directly into a bank, credit union or building society account nominated by the staff member.

Where a staff member and AATB agree, the staff member may elect to work a reduced working year of between 40 and 48 weeks. Staff may access the scheme for study, travel or other personal reasons. Staff members who participate in this scheme will have their income averaged to take into account periods of leave without pay of between 4 and 12 weeks in any 12 month period.

10. Deductions from Salary

Deductions from salary are made in respect of PAYE taxation, Medicare, and superannuation. These are obligatory deductions. In addition, by completing a payment authority form, which can be obtained from the Personnel Officer, it is possible to arrange for other deductions, such as health and ambulance funds, life insurance etc, to be made direct from salary. These are known as voluntary deductions.

11. Increments

If a salary increment is approved, it is payable on 1 July each year.  Increments are not normally paid to people who have been in post for less than 6 months.

12. Code of Conduct

Staff should perform their duties and conduct themselves in a manner that ensures that they maintain a reputation for fair dealing.
All staff are expected to comply with the AAO's Code of Conduct.

13. Resignation

An officer may at any time tender his or her resignation. Resignations should normally be in writing addressed to the Director and normally give at least two weeks’ notice. Officers will be formally advised of the acceptance of their resignation. (Fixed term scientific staff are subject to different rules, as set out in Terms and Conditions for Fixed Term Scientific Staff.)

14. Compensation

Compensation for employees is provided by the Commission for the Safety, Rehabilitation & Compensation of Commonwealth Employees (COMCARE). The Board has adopted the Rehabilitation Policy suggested by COMCARE.

Compensation may be claimed in the following circumstances:

(a) Where an officer is injured at work;

The Board is an approved authority under the Commonwealth of Australia Superannuation Act 1990. Until 1 July 2004, all eligible appointees to the AAO staff must contribute to the Public Sector Superannuation scheme set up under the Act, except fixed-term appointees who may be eligible to retain membership of a fund of which they were a member at the time of being offered appointment. From 1 July 2004, the PSS will be closed to new members and from then on new employees will have to join other supernnuation schemes.

16. Productivity Superannuation

On 1 January 1988 the Public Service Arbitrator granted a productivity award (brought in over two years) to be paid in the form of contributions to a properly constituted superannuation fund. The contributions range between 2% and 3% of salary, depending on salary level. With the exception of members of the AATB Staff Superannuation Fund, whose productivity payments are incorporated with the fund, the award payments are managed by the Retirement Benefits Office.

17. Long Service Leave

The Board agreed in 1978 to apply long service leave provisions to all its staff in accordance with the provisions of the Long Service (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976.

18. Temporary Accommodation Allowance

This allowance is paid in various circumstances to officers who incur expenses as a result of a permanent move on appointment, promotion or transfer away from their previous home, and who are not able to find immediately a suitable unfurnished residence in their new location. Details can be obtained from the Personnel Officer.

19. Motor Vehicle Allowance

This allowance is paid to officers who, with authorisation, use their private vehicles for official business. Staff who use their private vehicle for their own convenience when either public transport or transport provided by the Observatory could be used are not normally entitled to this allowance.

20. Higher Duties Allowance

An officer may be required to perform the duties of a position with a higher salary scale than his/her own position and, subject to certain conditions, may be paid an allowance which is the difference between his/her current salary and the base salary of the higher classification.

21. Leave

All absence from duty must be covered by a written application on a leave form stating the reasons for the absence.

Officers should not engage in any employment outside the Observatory which might be detrimental to the performance of their official duties or which might lead to a clash of loyalties. Applications from officers for permission to engage in outside employment should be submitted to the Director.
 
 
Updated by Joan Wilcox

20 January 2004  

Note regarding Enterprise Bargaining added by Chris Ramage 19 July 2007