AT832792 - Retail and Wholesale Industry - SDAEA Wholesale Grocers Award 2003 [Transitional]

17. IMPLEMENTATION OF 38 HOUR WEEK

17.1 Except as provided in 17.3, the method of implementation of the 38 hour week may be any one of the following:

17.1.1 by employees working less than eight ordinary hours each day; or

17.1.2 by employees working less than eight ordinary hours on one or more days each week; or

17.1.3 by fixing one week day on which all employees will be off during a particular work cycle; or

17.1.4 by rostering employees off on various days of the week during a particular work cycle so that each employee has one weekday off during that cycle.

17.2 Notice of days off

Except as provided in 17.3, in cases where, by virtue of the arrangement of his/her ordinary working hours, an employee, in accordance with 17.1.3 and 17.1.4, is entitled to a day off during his/her work cycle, such employee shall be advised by the employer at least four weeks in advance of the weekday he/she is to take off.

17.3 Substitute days

17.3.1 An employer, with the agreement of the majority of employees concerned, may substitute the day an employee is to take off in accordance with 17.1.3 and 17.1.4 for another day, in the case of a breakdown in machinery or a failure or shortage of electric power, or to meet the requirements of the business in the event of rush orders, or some other emergency situation.

17.3.2 An individual employee, with the agreement of the employer, may substitute the day he/she is to take off for another day.

17.4 An employee who, by the circumstances of the arrangement of his or her ordinary hours of work, is entitled to a rostered day off which falls on a public holiday prescribed in clause 30 - Holidays, shall be granted an alternative day off to be determined by mutual agreement between the employer and the employee.

17.5 In each plant an assessment should be made as to which method of implementation best suits the business, and the proposal shall be discussed with the employees concerned.