The University of Melbourne recently announced the approval of its new enterprise agreement for 2018. This agreement details the terms and conditions of employment for academic and professional staff at the university. If you are an employee or looking to join the university staff, it is important to understand the details of the agreement.
Key Features of the Enterprise Agreement
The new enterprise agreement covers a wide range of aspects including pay, leave, promotion, workload and working conditions. One of the key features of the agreement is an annual pay increase of 2% for the next three years. This means that employees will receive an increase in their base pay each year based on their current salary.
In addition, the agreement includes provisions for more flexible working arrangements for staff members. This includes an increase in the number of flexible work arrangements available to employees, such as part-time work or job sharing. The agreement also sets out guidelines for managing workloads to ensure that staff do not experience excessive stress or burnout.
The agreement also provides improved entitlements for personal leave and parental leave for both academic and professional staff. For example, the agreement increases the amount of paid parental leave available for primary carers from 14 weeks to 16 weeks.
Changes to Promotion Processes
Another significant change under the new enterprise agreement is the promotion process for academic staff. The promotion criteria have been revised to ensure that they are inclusive of diverse career paths and achievements. The promotion process also includes the provision for a ‘promotion ready’ category for academic staff who are close to meeting the criteria for promotion.
Impact of the Enterprise Agreement
Overall, the new enterprise agreement is designed to create a more supportive and flexible work environment for university employees. With improved pay rates, increased leave entitlements and more flexible working arrangements, staff members should feel more valued and supported in their roles.
The inclusion of diverse promotion criteria and the promotion ready category for academic staff ensures that career progression is more equitable for all staff members. This should help to promote a more diverse range of voices and perspectives within the university.
In summary, the University of Melbourne’s new enterprise agreement for 2018 represents a positive step towards creating a more supportive and inclusive work environment. If you are an employee or looking to join the university staff, the agreement is definitely worth reviewing.