Last week an agreement was reached in regard to overtime divisors in the civil service. This is an issue that has been unresolved since the restoration of pre-Haddington Road hours in 2022.

Overtime divisors determine the calculation of overtime payments in different parts of the public service. In the civil service working hours are referred to as gross and net. Net hours are the hours people work, and gross hours are hours worked combined with a lunchtime break of 1.25 hours (which totals to 6.25 hours per week).

When net hours were increased as part of the Haddington Road Agreement in 2013, net hours went up from 34.75 hours a week to 37 hours a week and gross hours went up to 43.25 a week. Overtime is calculated using gross hours.

Members will recall that in July 2022 when working time was restored to pre-Haddington Road hours, civil service hours were reset at 35 hours net and 41.25 hours gross.

However, at that time the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDPDR) refused to allow the new gross hours to be used in the calculation of overtime hourly rates. This meant that the hourly rates for overtime were lower than they should have been.

The Independent Hours Body, chaired by Kieran Mulvey, recommended that further direct discussion on the issue of overtime divisors should continue, but DPENDR ruled out a resolution as they deemed it to be a cost increasing claim.

Earlier this year the issue was included as a matter which should remain in progress in the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026.

This allowed the union to continue to raise the issue and seek a solution. A breakthrough finally came last week when agreement was reached.

Overtime divisors will be adjusted on 1^st October 2024, at the same time as the next public service pay adjustment. The divisor will now be 41.25 instead of 43.25 thus making the hourly rate bigger.

Head of the union’s Civil Service division Éamonn Donnelly said this agreement will have a real impact for members who are reliant on overtime to make up a sustainable wage.

He said: “This is really significant for our lower paid service officer and cleaner grades, among others. These may seem like small margins to some, but for our members on lower pay, who rely heavily on overtime to survive, it will make a welcome difference. We’re very pleased to have resolved this issue, however the very notion of ‘gross hours’ is outdated, and we remain committed to developing an overtime system that is fit for purpose.”

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.