GENERAL OPERATIVES (& RELATED GRADES)
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
WAGES
Basic Wage (13 pt Salary Scale) plus allowances. Current salary scales are available from the
Human Resources Department or can be obtained on our website at:
http://www.dit.ie/DIT/hr/Salary_Scales/index.html
OVERTIME (staff are not permitted to work more than 48 hours per week, averaged over a four
month period (basic reference period) in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Act,
1997).
OVERTIME RATES
8 am – 12pm
Monday to Friday
(Hours worked outside scheduled hours)
8am – 12 pm
Saturday
Sundays & Bank Holidays
TIME & HALF
TIME & HALF FOR FIRST
FOUR HOURS & DOUBLE
TIME THEREAFTER
DOUBLE TIME
Anything outside these hours is Double Time i.e. before 8am and after 12pm
HOURS OF WORK:
A five day, 40 hour week is in operation. Centres are normally open from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm
and starting and finishing times for general operatives are specified by supervisors. (To
compensate for the additional one-hour per week, six “rest days” per annum may be granted.
For contracts of less than one-year duration, “rest days” will be granted on a pro-rata basis).
(Different hours apply to nightwatchmen).
ALLOWANCES
General Operatives are only entitled to one allowance on top of their basic wage i.e. person in
receipt of a class/lab aide allowance cannot receive any other allowance.
 Travel Allowance – 12.82% of basic wage (compulsory allowance). This is not paid when
the staff member is on sick leave.
 Eating On Site - €1.90 per day or €9.50 per week. This is subject to attendance and is paid
to staff working a full day only. It is not paid when a staff member is on sick leave or on a
Rest Day. (compulsory allowance). Part-time staff do not qualify
 Shoe Allowance - once off payment per session, based on % of porters uniform (Porters
only)
 Clothing Allowance - % of porters uniform costs – (PWT GO Staff only who have
completed a satisfactory medical)
 Uniforms
Head Porter Uniform - All head porters are issued with a suit for each academic session.
This suit is issued through a supplier nominated by the Human Resources Department on the
recommendation of the Uniform committee, during the summer months.
Porters Uniform - All porters are issued with a uniform for each academic session. This
uniform is issued through a supplier nominated by the Human Resources Department on the
recommendation of the Uniform committee, during the summer months.
(Head Porters and Porters have a choice of an anorak or overcoat every second year).
MAINTENANCE DIFFERENTIALS (rate increases as at 1st Jan 2004 are subject to
verification process)
Porter
€43.62
Head Porter
€75.94
Goods Inwards Officer
€49.83
Boilerman
€23.30
Night/Shift Allowance
€12.84
Class/Lab Aide
€20.07
ANNUAL LEAVE
From 01 September each year until 31 August the following year.
Permanent and temporary general operatives are entitled to 20 days annual leave.
REST DAYS
Permanent and temporary general operatives are entitled to a maximum of 6 rest days per annum.
One rest day is granted for each period of two months during which the member of staff worked
full-time continuously. Paid leave does not affect entitlements to rest days. Unpaid leave can
result in a reduction to this entitlement (e.g. unpaid sick leave or Parental Leave taken as a block
of leave).
The rest days can be taken at any time during the leave year, subject to approval.
Rest days must be taken during the leave year and can not be carried over into the
following year.
Staff who terminate their employment with the Institute can only be paid for each full rest day
accrued based on the number of months worked from 1st September previously.
HEALTH & SAFETY
In accordance with the employees’ duties under Section 9 of the Health, Safety and Welfare at
Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of all staff to be aware of appropriate safety precautions
and take responsibility for implementing these in the workplace. This includes attendance of
relevant training courses, such as manual handling, as required.
STEPS FOR CLAIMING DISABILITY BENEFIT (GENERAL OPERATIVES)
The Sick Leave Period runs from January to December.
ELIGIBILTY
The Scheme applies to all employees who have undergone a satisfactory medical examination
carried out by an Institute nominated doctor and who meet the requirements set out below. Paid
sick leave will only be granted where there is a reasonable expectation that the employee
will resume duty with ability to render regular and efficient service.
NOTIFICATION OF ABSENCES
It is the responsibility of employees to notify their immediate supervisor of their absence and the
probable duration of the absence. This should be done by telephone, email or by hand delivered
letter, within two hours of normal starting time on the first day of absence.
RATES OF SICK PAY
Class A1 PRSI



Employees will receive full pay (less social welfare benefits) for a maximum of ten weeks
absence through illness in any one year.
This includes full pay for a maximum of seven days uncertified illness in a calendar year
but for no more than three consecutive days in any one period.
Bank holidays, concession days and week-end days (or non-timetable days) will be counted
where an employee is absent on a day immediately before and immediately after these days

(e.g. absence on a Friday and the following Monday will be regarded as four continuous days
absence).
For an uncertified & certified sick day, Travel and Eating on Site allowances are deducted for
each day a GO is off work.
Class D1 PRSI
 Employees will receive full pay for a maximum of ten weeks absence through illness in any
one year.
 This includes full pay for a maximum of seven days uncertified illness in a calendar year
but for no more than three consecutive days in any one period.
 26 weeks on ½ pay
 16 weeks on ¼ pay
 Bank holidays, concession days and week-end days (or non-timetable days) will be counted
where an employee is absent on a day immediately before and immediately after these days
(e.g. absence on a Friday and the following Monday will be regarded as four continuous days
absence).
 For an uncertified & certified sick day, Travel and Eating on Site allowances are deducted for
each day a GO is off work.
CERTIFIED SICK LEAVE: DOCTORS’ NOTES
Entitlement to paid sick leave for absences in excess of three continuous days, is subject to the
submission of Doctors’ notes in accordance with the following regulations: Doctors’ notes must be submitted to the employee’s immediate supervisor/Faculty Accounts
Office on or before noon of the third day of the absence. (Pembroke Street staff should send
medical certificates to the Buildings Maintenance Office in Pembroke Street).
 Doctors’ notes must be signed by a duly qualified medical practitioner and must be endorsed
by the official stamp of the practitioner. (If the Doctor does not have an official stamp,
certificates/notes on headed paper will be acceptable).
 Doctors’ notes must clearly indicate:
o the name and address of the medical practitioner
o the date of examination and date of verification
o the nature of the illness suffered and
o some guidelines on the anticipated length of the illness and prognosis (likelihood of
full recovery).
 Doctors’ notes must be submitted on a weekly basis where the absence exceeds one
week. (In exceptional circumstances and only with the prior approval of the Personnel
Officer, medical certificates/doctors’ notes will be acceptable on a monthly basis).
 Doctors’ notes must be submitted whether or not the employee has an entitlement to paid
sick leave.
GENERAL OPERATIVE STAFF (ON CLASS A1 PRSI ONLY):
PROCEDURES FOR CLAIMING SICKNESS BENEFIT FROM DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL & FAMILY AFFAIRS
In the event of illness or sickness, payments in respect of sick leave will be adjusted by reference
to any disability benefit received from the Department of Social & Family Affairs. Disability
Benefit is a payment made to insured staff on Class A1 rate of PRSI, who are unfit to work due
to illness, provided they satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions.
SUBMITTING FORM MC1 – send directly to the Social Welfare Office or to Department
of Social & Family Affairs
Under the terms of the Sick Pay Scheme the employee is obliged to make a claim. He/she must:




Apply within seven days of becoming ill, otherwise he/she may lose benefit.
Complete a Disability/ Injury Benefit form (MC1), which is available from their doctor,
and hand in to their nearest Social Welfare Local Office or post to Department of Social and
Family Affairs, P.O. Box 1650, Dublin 1.
Ask the doctor to complete two medical certificates, one for the Department of Social and
Family Affairs and one for the Institute.
Send a medical certificate to his/her immediate supervisor or Faculty Accounts office.
(Pembroke Street staff should send medical certificates to the Buildings Maintenance Office
in Pembroke Street).
A medical certificate must be produced after 3 days.
SENDING DISABILITY CHEQUES TO THE INSTITUTE
Disability Benefit is normally paid from the 4th day of a claim, and is then paid weekly by
cheque. While still in receipt of his/her weekly wages from DIT, cheques must be submitted
immediately they are received to:
DIT Payroll Department,
Fitzwilliam House,
30 Upper Pembroke Street,
Dublin 2.
Cheques should not be cashed by the individual. Failure to meet this requirement will
result in deductions equal to Social Welfare benefit made from wages, withdrawal of the
sick pay scheme and in certain cases, disciplinary action.
ELIGIBILITY TO RESUME DUTY
An employee who is absent through certified illness for four weeks or more must submit a
certificate from his/her doctor confirming his/her fitness to resume duty before being permitted
to return to work.
This certificate must be submitted to the employee’s immediate supervisor at least two working
days before intention to return to work, or at least one week before intention to return, where the
absence has been for more than three months.
Where an employee is absent in excess of three months, the Institute may request a full medical
report and have a medical practitioner appointed by the Institute, examine the employee with a
view to determining the likelihood of his/her returning to work and whether or not there are
sufficient medical reasons for the continued absence. The cost of such medical reports or
examinations will be borne by the Institute.
The Institute reserves the right to request any employee at any time to furnish a full medical
report, or have a medical practitioner appointed by the Institute examine the employee with a
view to determining his/her fitness to continue in employment, or whether there are sufficient
medical reasons for his/her absences from work. The cost of such medical reports or
examinations will be borne by the Institute.
Human Resources Department
November 2004