Working to a variable pattern (variable shift premium)

This scheme requires authorisation by the Reward Team

A minority of staff are required to work to a variable pattern or changing shifts in order to respond to the needs of their departments.

Staff employed in grades 1-5 who are required by their contracts of employment to work to a variable pattern or changing shifts are eligible for premium payments, the size of payment being determined by the extent to which their working patterns vary:

  1. You must consult your the Reward team if you wish to review or establish such a premium payment system.
  2. The minimum number of shifts which qualify for the premium is 3 in any week.
  3. The premium will take the form of a percentage addition to the basic hourly rate calculated according to the number of shifts over which the staff employee’s working pattern may vary.
  4. The percentage premium addition to the hourly rate for the relevant grade will be determined by Personnel Services in accordance with the table below:
Number of flexible shiftsPercentage premium to hourly rate
3 3
4 4
5 6
6 7
7 8
8 10
9 11
10 13
11 15
12 16
13 18
14 20
15 21
16 23
17 25
18 27
19 29
20 31
21 33

Example 1 - Staff working full rotating day and night shifts, e.g. university patrol staff.

Staff are required to work any shift throughout the week according to a changing roster.

The premium payment is 33%.

  Days
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Times of the week when staff may be rostered to work x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x

Example 2 - Staff required to work variable shift including weekends, e.g. some staff in the museum service.

The premium payment for variable working across 12 shifts is 16%.

  Days
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Times of the week when staff may be rostered to work   x x x x x x
  x x x x x x
             
  

CH4 Change: New Allowance (130kb)

CH12 End Allowances (109kb)