The process of reassigning higher education and ETB (education and training board) staff got underway this week after the department asked employers in the sector to identify workers who can be reassigned to critical work areas on a temporary basis.

In a circular published yesterday, the department asked employers to identify staff who are carrying out work that’s not essential at this time, so that they can be released for critical duties elsewhere.

Employers will identify staff available for temporary reassignment, who will subsequently receive a questionnaire from the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The PAS will match staff to the roles where help is needed.

Fórsa has sought a mechanism to allow staff with the correct skills and experience to volunteer to work in specific critical areas.

Although the PAS isn’t able to facilitate volunteers this at present, some education employers are seeking volunteers and designating them as available for redeployment. A number of institutions have already identified hundreds of volunteers.

It’s understood that presidents of institutes of technology are meeting today (Thursday) to agree a common approach to identifying staff available for reassignment.

Reassignments will be for 12-weeks, during which staff will be under the line management of your temporary employer.

However, measures already in place guarantee that reassigned staff will continue to be employed – and paid by – their existing employer. And they will return to their existing employer and role once the temporary transfer is over.

Staff who are on sick leave, or are self-isolating on medical advice, will not be reassigned. Those with childcare and other caring commitments can be asked to work at home.

The reassignments are part of a public service-wide mobilisation to meet the challenges posed by the coronavirus. All Government departments and agencies have been instructed to identify staff who can be reassigned, on a temporary basis, to areas of greatest need during the crisis.

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