Flexi Leave and Official Travel in Civil Service

BlueTaba · 22-11-2022 7:41pm #1

Hi, can someone point me in right direction to any policy or circular which confirms the correct way to treat flexi and official travel. For instance, if an officer has to travel to a different site from their base office to perform their official duties, is the travel time taken into account for flexi? I understand official travel time minus 30 minutes each way is used when calculating overtime payment but I can't find any definitive guide on how flexi is treated. If anyone knows of where to find the actual guidance on this it would be very appreciated.

Jim_Hodge · 22-11-2022 7:44pm

It used to be just a standard day's hours on the clock.

BlueTaba · 22-11-2022 7:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119908461#Comment_119908461

Thanks for this ,would you know where this is set in stone? What policy or circular confirms this? What happens though if the day overruns and an officer ends up doing for example a 9 hour day? Would they be expected to lose the 2 hours in this instance?

22-11-2022 7:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119908487#Comment_119908487

Typically the grades who would be doing the most travelling would not be the grades who can accrue flexi leave.

I've never heard of anyone getting credit on the flexi clock for travel days that run over.

BlueTaba · 22-11-2022 8:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119908524#Comment_119908524

Thanks for your reply but in the circumstances I'm referring to it applies to EO grade so that's why I'm looking for the actual circular which sets out in black and white as to what can be claimed or not in relation to flexi time only. Can't find anything on PSSO and HR have referred to time reckonable for payment of overtime only, this isn't applicable to these circumstances.

22-11-2022 8:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119908596#Comment_119908596

If you're being paid overtime, then you are already being compensated for any extra time worked.

You're not going to get both - paid for the extra time, and credit for it on the clock as well.

All the circulars are here:

https://www.revenue.ie/en/employing-people/employee-expenses/travel-and-subsistence/civil-service-rates.aspx

BlueTaba · 22-11-2022 9:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119908765#Comment_119908765

Thanks for the reply but overtime is not the issue, its not being claimed so is not applicable to these circumstances. The link you provided relates to revenue re t&s etc. I'm looking for the circular or policy which directly refers to the flexi and how its determined when an officer has to travel to another site for the purposes of performing their duties.

EO2019 · 22-11-2022 9:13pm

It’s the same circular 08/2021 part 2.3 Its officially called time off in lieu or toil. The extra hours added to your day for travel above your normal working day can be paid as overtime or time off in lieu ie added to your clock as flexi.

BlueTaba · 22-11-2022 9:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119908904#Comment_119908904

Thanks for this, this was the circular I checked up earlier today but as it doesn't specify flexi as opposed to TOIL I'm not sure it's applicable. If, for example, an officer travels to outside base, say 30 mins journey, completes a 8 hour day then travels back, then they can only put 8 hours on clock rather 9 hrs? However, if they travel and do a 6 hour day then they can credit the clock with the full 7 hours? This is the type of scenario that I am seeking clarification on.

caviardreams · 22-11-2022 9:49pm

I think most people just offer up the odd extra hour etc. especially when it probably works the other way WFH.

22-11-2022 9:51pm

I think I misunderstood you - I thought you were referring to foreign travel abroad, or overnight travel within Ireland. Apologies.

Time-in-Lieu is usually granted for any hours worked outside the flexible core bands. e.g. before 8am and after 7pm, or for full days worked that would not usually be an employee's normal pattern (in the case of worksharers who do an extra day).

My dept doesn't give a choice to choose flexi clock credit instead - its either T-I-L or extra payment, but you can enquire locally with your own department.

Does you flexi clock software have a setting that allows you to clock out for "official business"?

In my dept we clock via our computers, so not at an actual terminal in each of our buildings. If you were travelling between buildings, you could clock out on "official business" and you would get credit back for those hours, unless they were as explained above - outside the flexi bands, which is when Time In Lieu would be granted instead.

BlueTaba · 22-11-2022 9:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119909118#Comment_119909118

Thanks for the comment but wfh is not an option here so not applicable. I just want to find where it states in writing the correct process.

BlueTaba · 22-11-2022 10:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119909133#Comment_119909133

Hi, thanks very much for taking the time to reply, really appreciate it. We use Clockwise which does allow for outside business. I'm trying to find out if the time taken to travel between sites count as flexi as its been suggested it may not. Many officers will travel straight from home to outside base, a good hours travel from their home AND normal office base so this has further muddied the water. All I want is the definitive policy, in writing, that can be referred to in case of further misunderstanding.

Larbre34 · 22-11-2022 10:03pm

What you're asking to see in writing, doesn't exist.

You get a flat day adjustment for offsite work, thats always been understood. Travel time is irrelevant.

BlueTaba · 22-11-2022 10:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119909199#Comment_119909199

Thanks for your input, it's appreciated. I want to get a definitive policy answer on this as what happens if the officer puts in a 9 hour day, including travel. Can they put the 9 hours on the clock if all built up during core hours? This is where the confusion is arising.

22-11-2022 10:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119909223#Comment_119909223

Maximum core hours (with the exception of D/Health, as far as I know) is 8 hrs 30 minutes (8am to 7pm with mandatory 30 minutes for lunch).

Augme · 22-11-2022 10:23pm

You don't get travel time for when you going into the department so you don't get it when travelling somewhere else. Now, local arrangements will lead to a variance in this area though.

gazzer · 23-11-2022 7:49am

When I was an EO in a rural location i used to have to travel to Dublin at least one day a week for meetings. I would claim the travel time (minus what it would normally take me to travel to the rural office).

Any time before 8am and after 7pm I claimed as TIL.

I used to have to travel to Brussels as well and claimed the same when travelling. Some days I didn't get home until 2am so I had a LOT of TIL

23-11-2022 8:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119909874#Comment_119909874

my county council days im talking about here and same- no such thing as overtime, but if i was travelling off site my travel time was back in lieu always

Flexi Leave and Official Travel in Civil Service

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