Schools It’s about time in lieu

The State of Our Schools survey in 2021 revealed the significant, unsustainable workloads of principals, education support staff and teachers. Over 10,000 public school staff reported workload concerns, echoed repeatedly through sub-branch and regional meetings. The VGSA 2022 member log of claims sought a number of claims aimed at reducing workload, including time in lieu for work undertaken outside their paid hours. 

For too long, teachers have been participating in required activities outside of their normal hours for free, and ES have experienced too much ambiguity about their time in lieu provisions. The new VGSA reduces workload pressures, giving teachers and ES time in lieu for structured school activities.

Time in lieu for all events outside of usual hours will be implemented from the commencement of the VGSA 2022. Time in lieu for camps for teachers will start on
1 January 2023. Time in lieu is calculated on an hour-for-hour basis, except for camps, where the calculation depends on the employee’s roster and duties.

For any structured school activity (parent–teacher meetings and information sessions, camps and excursions, concerts and after-hours sport) where staff are required, they must be provided with time in lieu for excess hours. 

Any staff required to attend camp will be provided with time in lieu for the hours outside their ordinary hours at a rate of 100% (hour-for-hour) when performing duties, and at 50% for time not directly involving students or undertaking duties.

Time in lieu should be taken within the fortnight it is accrued or by the end of the year. As an alternative, payment may be agreed to by the employee and the principal. 

It’s important for schools to have a TIL policy and to understand what events will attract time in lieu, who will be required when, and the local arrangements for acquittal. Sub-branches, through their AEU representative and AEU consultative committee representative, will be instrumental here. 

Case study: Acquittal
Kirra is an ES integration aide asked to attend an information night and to help prepare the night’s information booklets. She is removed from her usual classes, replaced by a casual ES who is paid from the school’s casual relief budget. 

Kirra’s usual hours are from 9.00am to 3.30pm, six hours each day with an unpaid half-hour lunch break. After preparing the booklets, Kirra helps set up the information evening from 3.30pm and leaves at 7.30pm. 

Kirra does not receive time in lieu for the hours from 9am to 3.30pm because she would usually work these hours, but she accrues four hours time in lieu for her work between 3.30pm and 7.30pm. Kirra and the principal agree that Kirra will leave work at 2.30pm the following four work days to acquit the time owed to her.