Thanks - so now I know.
Not having a go at the PS but in our case anyway, it's proving to be very silly. As you say, it has worked out more inconvenient for the PS than for us on each occasion. The stances taken haven't even been logical. Hasn't cost us a cent so far - maybe 10 minutes extra admin.
As I said, we do more favours as a supplier than they do for us anyway so, if it turns out that a WTR attitude costs us financially, or in terms of time, we will simply apply our own WTR and claw any lost money back as there are plenty of ways of doing so - might even add in a few more % just for the inconvenience caused
What would happen if one person kept answering the phone on the off days?
Tell your friend to buy her granny a mobile!
One point that has caused a bit of hassle in our place is that we are not supposed to do the work of another grade. So if someone is off sick or on leave, that work is supposed to be left. However this can have a knock on effect for the rest of us and is proving to be more hassle for the employees than anything else.
I don't get it - have the unions not thought of this or discussed it? It's totally counterproductive.
Can't go into specifics, and it's convoluted to explain anyway but a few stances taken with us as a supplier (apparently as a result of a WTR) have actually cost the PS money and quite a bit of hassle I'd say too. For us the impact was negligible. I don't understand the point of it.
she isn't at her best mentally shall we say, so she has to be loooked after.
A friend of mine working in a university was handed a memo detailing what to do as part of the work-to-rule. One of the items was not to reply to an email until the next day - is that not a go-slow rather than a work-to-rule?
So is disruption caused to suppliers just regarded as collateral as well?
I don't see why staff/unions cannot distinguish between their employer and their suppliers.
If you mean the WTR will be over tommorow, afraid not. It's only getting going. Answering telephone calls is a fairly common task written into a job spec. I have a list of specific duties which I issue to new staff and one of the tasks is to deal with telephone calls promptly. The non answering of phones is a form of industrial action which is short of strike action. The employer has been informed of the action according to the industrial relations act. The employer can decide to reduce pay for non performance of certain duties by say 10%. This was what they threatened to do to nurses when they were looking for the 35 hour week a few years ago.... it'll probably be over by then!
Just one question ... why didn't someone in the government write 'responding to telephone queries' into the job description of civil servants?
The employer has been informed of the action according to the industrial relations act. The employer can decide to reduce pay for non performance of certain duties by say 10%.
Why would they be excluded specifically?
I don't consider the government the employer. My employer is the HSE. I agree that some employers, namely private sector ones, wouldn't put up with this but you're not comparing like with like.I am curious why you refer to the government as the 'employer' as if this happens within other employments. Maybe I am wrong butI would say there is no other employer in Ireland that would put up with a work-to-rule like this.
This WTR is a form of industrial action just like a strike. The employer is the HSE in my case not the government . What about patients? My Dad has an OPD appointment next week which is an all day one. If a 3 hour stoppage was planned that day in the hospital, chances are the appointment will be cancelled. This has nothing to do with him either.Why??
A WTR is a protest - right? So what is it about suppliers that the HSE or wider public service is protesting about? The protest is meant to be against their employer, the state, as far as I was aware.
Put simply, suppliers should be excluded because it's got nothing to do them.
For exactly what reason should PS workers make it difficult for suppliers to do their job, regardless of what they are supplying?
This WTR is a form of industrial action just like a strike. The employer is the HSE in my case not the government.
What about patients? My Dad has an OPD appointment next week which is an all day one. If a 3 hour stoppage was planned that day in the hospital, chances are the appointment will be cancelled. This has nothing to do with him either.
What I can't see any logic in is making things difficult for suppliers to the extent where it costs both the PS and the suppliers time and money, when the supplies will be needed anyway, and when there will be no affect that I can see other than to annoy suppliers.
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