Public and Commercial Services Union

DWP/BB/108/07

Management grade changes

Branches were advised in briefing DWP/BB/086/07, issued 23 July 2007, about management grade changes for delivery of sick leave procedures in Jobcentre Plus. Advice on sick leave procedures was provided in a PCS newsbrief for members, DWP/MB/031/07, issued 30 July 2007.

Management compliance checks

Jobcentre Plus has also introduced attendance management compliance checks for short term absence, consideration point compliance and long term absence.

PCS has been consulted about these procedures but has not agreed them. Some amendments were made in response to PCS concerns. The need to meet minimum standards for procedural fairness was accepted. The head of HR operations has issued helpful guidance to managers. A copy is available to download, with this circular, for your information.

Procedural fairness standards

The arrangements for delivery of DWP procedures, or compliance checks, may vary across the businesses within DWP. However, this does not mean that the standards for procedural fairness vary. Three key minimum standards must be met in all circumstances:

• Dismissal/demotion decision makers and appeal managers must have had no previous involvement in the case (attendance procedures paras 6.5 and 7.0)
• A formal meeting must take place with the decision maker at each stage of the procedure (attendance policy paras 6 and 21)
• When deciding on the appropriateness of improvement warnings, decision makers may take advice but not instructions from senior managers.

Problems with the delivery of the attendance management, or sick leave, policy and procedures should be reported to PCS DWP group office when the circumstances provide evidence of the need for policy or procedural improvement.