Education, Training And Development Policies

Appointment In An Acting Capacity Policy

Objective

The objective of this policy is to outline guidelines for the appointment of employees into acting positions and the granting of acting allowance.

An acting allowance is a non pension-able allowance paid to an employee who is appointed by the Municipality management to act in a higher position than his or her own.

Policy

(1) All employees are contractually bound to flexibility including multi-skilling, multi-tasking and mobility, subject to reasonable and prior consultation. Acting allowances are not paid for flexibility as such, but only where an employee operates for a defined minimum period in a senior position to their normal role;
(2) Before an employee commences their duties in an acting position, a letter is issued by Human Resources to the acting employee detailing the acting individual's roles and clarifying responsibilities;
(3) The qualifying period for the purpose of this policy shall mean a continuous period of ten (10) days, and shall include any public holiday falling within this period;
(4) When the qualifying period is broken by absence from duty for a period of one day or more, and the Municipal Manager is satisfied that such absence has been caused by circumstances beyond the control of the acting employee, the qualifying period shall not be regarded as having been broken if the acting employee in the aggregate acted for no less than three (3) days; and
(5) An acting employee who takes leave of any kind shall be paid an acting allowance up to and including the last working day before proceeding on leave and from the day on which they return from leave.

Payment

(1) In determining the amount of acting allowance to be paid, it is also taken into account that the appointment to act in a position higher than that which the employee currently occupies, offers an opportunity to enhance training and development at a higher level;
(2) An acting allowance shall be paid from the first day to the last day of the acting appointment including public holidays; and
(3) If in a senior position where a senior member of the organisation acts in the position of another of equivalent rank, no acting allowance shall be payable.
(4) In all other instances the acting allowance paid shall be determined as follows:

• When an employee is appointed to act in a certain higher position, a non-pensionable acting allowance, which is the difference between the employee's current salary and the minimum salary for the acting level shall be paid at the end of the acting period or on each pay day falling within the acting period; and
• The overtime rate for an acting employee during the acting period, if applicable, shall be based on their remuneration exclusive of the acting allowance.
• Restriction of levels in an acting capacity shall be resolved by Council, in response to motivation from the Head of Department on a case-by-case basis.

Limitation

No employee will act in a higher position for a continuous period exceeding six (6) months unless authorised by the Full Council in conjunction with the EXCO.