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Information update
for VSP round 2
The Public Service Commission has issued an updated set of ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ relating to the recently announced round two of the Queensland Public Service Voluntary Separation Program.
The second phase of redundancies was included in the Treasurer’s Mid-year Fiscal and Economic Review earlier this month and adds another 1,500 offers to the program, taking the total number of proposed separations from the PS to 5,000.
The new round maintains the Government’s commitment to frontline service delivery (such as nurses, teachers, child protection workers and police officers) with the new Voluntary Separation Packages (VSPs) targeted at non-frontline service areas such as Corporate Services and Service Support areas.
The PSC says no employee will be forced to accept a VSP.
The new FAQs say the calculation of a VSP would be based on an employee’s separation date and years of service.
The FAQs say employees would receive 30 weeks’ pay for volunteering to separate plus three weeks’ pay for each completed year of service, up to a maximum of 60 weeks.
“The level of base payment has been substantially increased in comparison to previous schemes,” the PSC says.
It says most agencies had already closed round one of the program and all Agencies had until 29 February 2012 to conclude it.
“Round two of the program is proposed to commence operation from late April or early May 2012, with employees separating early in the 2012-13 financial year,” the PSC says in the new FAQs.
“Round two of the program will operate under the same conditions as round one.
“Employees will be given 20 working days to consider a VSP offer.”
The PSC says that during an election caretaker period, the VSP program would be suspended.
“However, if you have been made an offer prior to the caretaker period you will not be affected, and should you accept the offer it will be processed as normal,” the PSC says.
It says only permanent staff employed permanently before to 1 January 2010 could take up a VSP, while Senior Executive Service (SES) officers with tenure were also eligible.
The PSC says subsequent rounds may be considered, however the benefits of further offers may not be as attractive.
“Employees who have received a VSP will not be eligible to be re-employed in a Queensland Government entity for a period of three years.”
Further information about the VSP program can be obtained from Human Resources divisions or the Public Service Commission website www.psc.qld.gov.au
The updated FAQs can be accessed at this PS News link.
Edition 201, 26 January 2012
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