Fórsa has secured an overtime rate for hospital pharmacists who work overtime as part of the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines. The rate is in line with overtime payments for nursing grades, the details of which are confirmed by a new circular issued yesterday (11^th February). 

The union’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, said he’d been in discussions with the HSE in the expectation that the Covid-19 vaccine rollout would place additional demands on some pharmacists.

“This new arrangement recognises the likely additional workload faced by pharmacists as the vaccine rollout effort is ramped up over the coming months, and will see pharmacists receive an overtime rate in line with other clinicians,” he said.

The memo states that the proposed arrangement is only applicable for the duration of the current Covid-19 vaccine rollout and is subject to review.

The normal rules for overtime apply, which means it is only payable after the full-time hours are worked. The memo says overtime should only be planned in exceptional circumstances in response to service demands.

Éamonn added: “For those with salaries above €35,000, overtime will be paid at time-and-a- quarter at the individual’s scale point. The rate applies outside normal Monday to Saturday rostered hours.

“For salaries below €35,000, overtime will be paid at time-and-a-half at the first point of the scale,” he said. All overtime hours worked on a Sunday or public holiday are paid at the rate of double time.

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