Page 2067 - Week 05 - Thursday, 3 May 2012
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Employees who perform some or all of their duties from home also have responsibility for their workplace health and safety. All employees are under an obligation to report all work accidents/incidents in accordance with the WHS Act.
There may also be occasions where it is appropriate for an employee to work from home on an ad hoc basis, for example, the need to complete a particular report or project. In these circumstances, arrangements to work from home are to be negotiated on a case by case basis between the employee and their manager (including in relation to work safety and information security).
ACT public service—employees working from home
Ms Gallagher (in reply to a supplementary question by Ms Bresnan on Thursday, 22 March 2012): In recognition of my responsibilities as Chief Minister in relation to the ACT Public Service, your question has been directed to me for response by the Minister for Industrial Relations, Dr Chris Bourke MLA.
As an employer the ACT Public Service is committed to providing a workplace which is flexible, supportive, safe and innovative. The ACTPS recognises that home based work arrangements can benefit both employees and employing Directorate as it assists employees to balance their work and personal commitments.
In many cases, home based work arrangements facilitate an employee’s ongoing participation in the workforce in circumstances where the same level of contribution would not be possible in the absence of this flexibility. Common examples include employees with caring responsibilities such as parents seeking to return to work after a period maternity/paternity leave or those providing care support for the ageing or ill members of our community.
In approving home based work arrangements the ACT Government must act in a manner consistent with overriding fiscal responsibilities for the proper management of Territory funds.
Applications to work from home are considered on a case by case basis — the key considerations are suitability of the work for this arrangement, operational requirements, cost effectiveness and the circumstances of the employee. An employee must be able to work as efficiently and effectively as an equivalent staff member who is office based.
ACT public service—employees working from home
Ms Gallagher (in reply to a supplementary question by Mr Hargreaves on Thursday, 22 March 2012): In recognition of my responsibilities as Chief Minister in relation to the ACT Public Service, your question has been directed to me for response by the Minister for Industrial Relations, Dr Chris Bourke MLA.
The ACT Legislative Assembly Member’s Staff Enterprise Agreement 2011-2013 (the Agreement) establishes the conditions of engagement that apply to members of the ACT Legislative Assembly and persons engaged under the Legislative Assembly (Members’ Staff) Act 1989 in a classification set out in Annex A to the Agreement.
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