No images? Click here A safe work update from ASMS SafeWork 2022 With the Omicron outbreak poised to spread rapidly throughout Aotearoa, we know our members will be put under even more pressure from DHBs trying to manage Omicron cases - against a backdrop of already serious staffing shortages and expected staff absences. We’ve identified several potential issues and have put together some advice. A surge or crisis agreementStaff safety and wellbeing is under ongoing pressure from sustained staff shortages and is likely to get worse with Covid surge pressures. ASMS is always available to support you to enforce existing terms and conditions AND to make sure employers continue to meet their obligations to you – including when there is pressure on staffing for any reason. ASMS has successfully negotiated a range of agreements to protect your conditions of work. If you think a surge agreement in your department could be useful, please contact your local industrial officer. For more information on what a surge agreement might include, go here Extra pay for extra workYou may be asked to do extra work. While this may be expected, it is not reasonable to pick up extra duties or to cover for missing colleagues without being paid for them. If your service has existing additional duties arrangements, these should apply. If you need advice or help to establish fair rates for additional duties, please contact your local industrial officer. Advice on redeploymentYou may be told to prepare to be drafted into other roles. We are keeping close tabs on DHBs’ developing advice regarding redeployment or other duties, but in the meantime you can follow existing advice, which we will
continue to update. We also have medico-legal advice from MPS if you are worried about working outside your scope during the pandemic, along with other FAQs. Leave arrangementsCancelling leave might be an approach DHBs try to take to manage staffing shortages. Remember that once approved, annual leave cannot be revoked except by mutual agreement. If you are asked or pressured to cancel your leave, please get in touch with your industrial officer if you want to clarify your position. Clinically-led decision makingIf your service is considering making any changes in the way they deliver health services then these need to be clinically-led decisions. Depending on the nature of the changes and the drivers of them, DHBs may need to consult with ASMS and SMOs. If you have concerns about any proposed changes to your working conditions because of a significant Covid outbreak, or for any other reason, we encourage you to seek advice from your local industrial officer. |