When can a responsibility payment be used?
A responsibility payment is a temporary allowance for an employee who “acts- up” to some or all of the duties of another higher graded post. For example, to cover a period of sick leave, or whilst a post is going through the recruitment process or to cover additional duties such as such as project work.
Responsibility payments require prior approval from a Third Tier Manager or authorised signatory and should only be used for short term, temporary cover, usually not more than 3 months.
How is a responsibility Payment calculated?
Employees can be paid for covering the entirety of the post or by percentage if only covering some additional duties. Responsibility payments are calculated by multiplying the difference in hourly rate between the 2 posts by the number of hours worked in the higher graded post. Generally, the employee is paid the difference between their own Spinal Column Point (SCP) and the lower SCP of the grade they are covering. However in exceptional circumstances, an Executive Director may authorise payment above the starting point of the grade.
Points to be aware of?
It is important to note that employees in receipt of a responsibility payment will not be transferred into the post that they are covering and will remain in their own post. Therefore, employees will receive responsibility allowance for the hours they act-up but will not receive sick pay or holiday pay at the higher graded post, and will not benefit from having a higher salary for superannuation purposes. Managers should therefore determine if it would be more appropriate to fill the post on a temporary basis.
How is a Responsibility Payment processed?
All responsibility payments are processed by submitting an irregular claim.