1

Extract from Queensland Government Industrial Gazette,

Dated 21 December 2007, Vol. 186, No. 20, pages 716-730]

QUEENSLANDINDUSTRIALRELATIONSCOMMISSION

IndustrialRelationsAct1999-s.278-unpaidwages

RenateBrysonANDStBrendan'sCollege(B/2007/29)

COMMISSIONERASBURY / 12December2007

DECISION

1.Overview

ThisisanapplicationbyRenateBrysonunders.278oftheIndustrialRelationsAct1999(theAct). MsBrysonclaimsunpaidwagesintheamountof$13,952.71,fortheperiod19February2001and20May2006,asfollows:

  • 2001-$1,705.58
  • 2002-$1,511.03
  • 2003-$4,480.59
  • 2004-$2,780.75
  • 2005-$3,431.20
  • 2006-$ 43.56

TherespondentinthismatterisStBrendan'sCollege,Yeppoon(theCollege). TheCollegeconcedesthatMsBrysonwasunderpaidduringtheperiodsubjectofherclaim,byanamountof$8,595.86. ThedifferencebetweentheamountclaimedandtheamounttheCollegeconcedesisowed,isbasedonadisputebetweenthepartiesabouttheapplicationandinterpretationofcertainprovisionsoftheAwardandtheAgreement.

2.EvidenceandSubmissionsfortheApplicant

MsBrysonwasemployedbytheCollegein2001and2002asacasualinthekitchen,aswellasacleanerintheboardingdormitories. In2003,MsBryson'semployment(alongwiththatofothercasualemployees)wasconvertedtopart-timeemployment. On20January2003,aletterconfirmingthischangewassenttoMsBrysonunderthesignatureofMrMarkCranny,theCollege'sBusinessManager(Exhibit11Attachment1). Thatletter,countersignedbyMsBrysonon5February2003,attachesarosterasfollows:

" / KITCHEN / CLEANING
SUNDAY / 6.30a.m.to1.30p.m.
MONDAY / 5.45p.m.to9.15p.m. / 5.00a.m.to8.00a.m.
TUESDAY / 5.00a.m.to8.00a.m.
WEDNESDAY / 5.45p.m.to9.15p.m.
THURSDAY / 5.00a.m.to8.00a.m.
FRIDAY / 5.00a.m.to11.30a.m.
SATURDAY".

EssentiallythatrosterprovidedforMsBrysontowork15.5hoursperweekcleaningand14hoursperweekinthekitchen. Thisworkwasperformedoversixdaysoftheweek. TherewasevidencethatMsBryson'srosterwaschangedfromtimetotime,forreasonssuchasMsBrysonworkingadditionalhourstocoverforanemployeeabsentduetoillness,andbecauseofvariationsinthenumbersofboarders.

DuringtheperiodsubjectofMsBryson'sclaim,heremploymentwasregulatedbytwoindustrialinstruments. From19February2001until20April2005,theindustrialinstrumentregulatingthetermsandconditionsofMsBryson'semploymentwastheCatholicBoardingSchoolsandCollegesEmployees(ExcludingSouth-EastQueensland)-IndustrialAgreement(theAgreement). On20April2005,theAgreementwasrepealed,andanewaward,entitledCatholicBoardingSchoolsandCollegesEmployees(ExcludingSouth-EastQueensland)Award-State2005(theAward)cameintoeffect.

MsBrysoncontendedthatherentitlementtounpaidwagesclaimedstemsfrombreachesbytheCollegeofvariousprovisionsoftheAgreementandtheAwardinrelationtothefollowingmatters:

  • arequirementforemployeestohavetwoconsecutivedaysoff;
  • paymentswhenrecalledtoworkovertimeafterleavingtheemployer'spremises;
  • achangetothebasisofMsBryson'semploymentfrompart-timetocasual,withoutherknowledgeoragreement;
  • failuretopaysixhoursofsickleavefor19May2006;and
  • failuretopayweekendpenaltyrates.

MsBrysonalsocontendedthatshewasnotpaidcorrectlyforovertimeworked,includingmealbreaks. MsBrysontenderedherpersonaldiariesfortheperiodcoveredbyherclaim. AperusalofthesediariesindicatesthatMsBrysonrecordedeveryaspectofherdailyactivitiesinminutedetail,includinghoursworked. MsBrysonalsotenderedherpayslipsfortheperiodinquestionandasummarysheetshowinghourssheclaimedtohaveworked,theamountpaidforthosehoursandtheamountsaidtobeowing. Thesummarydocument,comprisingsome130pageswasAppendixEtoMsBryson'sAffidavit(Exhibit1). MsBryson'soralevidencewasthatinnumerousweeksshewasrequiredtoworkfor7daysstraightwithoutabreak. MsBrysonalsocontendedthatshewasunderpaidonotherdaysandwasdeniedsickleavetowhichshewasentitledon19June2006.

MsBrysonsaidthatin2003,shewasdirectedbyFrankHildenbeuteltofalsifytimesheetsasmanagementdidnotwanttoseeovertimeontimesheets. AccordingtoMsBryson'sevidence,thiscouldbedemonstratedbyreferencetoherdiarywhichshowedhoursactuallyworked. Therelevantdayswere4,5,11,12,18,19,25and26August;1,2,8,9,15and16September;and6and7October2003. On15August2003thefollowingentryappearsinMsBryson'sdiary:

"Hadtochangemycleaningtimesheetduetodoubletimeandahalf,butFranksaidtoaddacoupleofhourssoIdon'tloseoutaltogether.WorkedoutMonandWed4hrseach,Tues,ThursandFriday7hrseach=58hrsforfortnight.Headofficedidn'twantanyonetoputovertimeontheirtimesheets.".

On3October2003afurtherentryappearsasfollows:

"Wastoldnottofalsifytimesheetsanymoreon10/10/03.Thislastpayfordoingso.".

AccordingtoMsBryson'sdiaries,theactualhoursworkedbyheronthosedateswereasfollows:

  • 4August2003-3.5hourskitchenand9hourscleaning;
  • 5August2003-9hourscleaning;
  • 11August2003-3.5hourskitchenand9hourscleaning;
  • 12August2003-9hourscleaning;
  • 18August2003-3.5hourskitchenand9hourscleaning;
  • 19August2003-9hourscleaning;
  • 25August2003-3.5hourskitchenand9hourscleaning;
  • 26August2003-9hourscleaning;
  • 1September2003-3.5hourskitchenand9hourscleaning;
  • 2September2003-9hourscleaning;
  • 8September2003-3.5hourskitchenand9hourscleaning;
  • 9September2003-9hourscleaning;
  • 15September2003-3.5hourskitchenand9hourscleaning;
  • 16September2003-9hourscleaning;
  • 6October2003-3.5hourskitchenand6hourscleaning;and
  • 7October2003-9hourscleaning.

MsBryson'sdiariesgenerallydonotindicatethestartingandfinishingtimesfortheperiodsoftimeworkedeitherinthekitchenorcleaning,anditisnotclearfromtheevidencewhetherMsBrysonreturnedhomebetweenkitchendutiesandcleaningdutiesondayswhenbothwereperformed. Generallythediariessimplystatethenumberofhourssaidtohavebeenworkedinthekitchen,theinfirmaryorcleaning. MsBrysonconcededthatinsomeinstances,withtheapprovalofMrHildenbeutel,sherecordedadditionalhoursatordinaryrates,inrespectofdayswhenshedidnotwork,sothatshereceivedcompensationfortheseovertimehours. However,theevidenceabouthowoftenthisoccurredwasnotclearandthematterwasnotclarifiedincross-examination.

MsBrysonalsosaidthatin2005,forsixmonthsfrom13Mayto14October,herrateofpayforcleaningdutieswaschangedfrompermanentpart-timetocasual,exceptfortheweekof24June2005whenthepart-timeratewaspaid. TheratepaidtoMsBrysonforworkinthekitchendidnotchangeduringthisperiod. ThischangewasmadewithoutMsBryson'sknowledgeorconsent. MsBrysonwasthenpromptedtoscrutiniseallofherpayslipsandcomparethemwiththehoursshehadrecordedinherdiary. MsBryson'sevidenceaboutthisperiodisunclear,butitappearsthatshecontendsthattheCollegehasnotcreditedherwithsickleaveorannualleaveforsixfortnightsduringthisperiod. Further,theCollegehascontendedthatMsBrysonwasoverpaidforthisperiod,byvirtueofbeingpaidacasualloading. MsBrysonsaidinherevidencethatshehadnotincludedthismatterinthepresentclaimforunpaidwages.

MsBrysonsaidthatherclaimisbasedonthefollowingclausesoftheAgreement:

  • 3.3(6)penaltypaymentsforworkperformedonSaturdayorSundayforotherthanpart-timeorcasualemployees;
  • 3.3(7)(a)paymentofcasualemployeesattherateof1/38oftheappropriateweeklyratewithatwohourminimumpayment;
  • 4.6.2overtimemealbreaks;
  • 4.6.3paymentatovertimeratesforalltimeworkedonrostereddaysoff;
  • 4.6.6minimumpaymentforemployeesrecalledtoworkovertime;
  • 4.9(1)minimumhoursofworkandrostersforpart-timeemployees;
  • 4.9(2)hoursofworkforpart-timeemployees;
  • 4.9(4)annualleaveforpart-timeemployees;
  • 4.9(5)overtimeforpart-timeemployees;
  • 5.1(1)annualleave;
  • 5.2(1)paymentforworkonstatutoryholidays;and
  • 5.3(3)sickleave.

InrelationtotheAward,MsBryson'sclaimwassaidtobebasedonthefollowingclauses:

  • 4.3(1)hoursofworkforpart-timeemployees;
  • 4.4.2(a)paymentofcasualemployeesattherateof1/38oftheappropriateweeklyratewithatwohourminimumpayment;
  • 6.5.1overtimepayments;
  • 6.5(2)overtimemealbreaks;
  • 6.5(3)overtimeforworkperformedonanemployee'srostereddayoff;
  • 6.5(6)minimumpaymentforemployeesrecalledtoworkovertime;
  • 6.6.2weekendpenaltypaymentsforotherthanpart-timeorcasualemployees.
  • 7.1.2annualleavetobeexclusiveofpublicholidays;
  • 7.2.3evidencesupportingaclaimforsickleave;
  • 7.6.1paymentforpublicholidaysworked;and
  • 7.6.4paymentforpublicholidaysforemployeeswhodonotworkMondaytoFridayofeachweek.

OnperusingMsBryson'scalculations,itisapparentthatthefollowingmethodologyhasbeenadoptedtoformulatetheamountclaimed:

  • ithasbeenassumedthatthemaximumnumberofordinaryhourswhichcouldbeworkedbyMsBrysoninanydaywas7.6;
  • foreaseofcalculationthemaximumnumberofordinaryhourswhichcanbeworkedinanyonedayhasbeensetat7.5ratherthan7.6becauseMsBrysondidnotthinkthatsixminutesmattered;
  • ithasbeenassumedthatwhereMsBrysondidnothavetwoconsecutivedaysoff,sheisentitledtobepaidatovertimeratesforworkperformedonthesixthandseventhdayinanyweek;
  • MsBrysonhasclaimedanentitlementtoalaundryallowanceof$5.00perweek;
  • ithasbeenassumedthatprovisionsrequiringaneighthourbreakbetweenworkonsuccessivedaysappliedtoMsBryson;and
  • ithasbeenassumedthatpenaltyprovisionsforemployeesrecalledtoworkovertimeafterleavingtheemployer'spremisesonanydayappliedtoMsBryson.

3.EvidenceandSubmissionsfortheRespondent

MrO'NeillperformedwagescalculationsfortheRespondenttoascertaintheextentofanyunderpaymenttoMsBryson. AccordingtoMrO'Neill'sevidencethecalculationswereundertakenwithreferencetoMsBryson'stimesheets,andthetermsoftheAgreementandtheAward. ItwasconcededthattherehadbeenanunderpaymentofwagestoMsBrysoninrelationtothefollowingprovisionsoftheAgreementandtheAwardwhichwerenotappliedorhadbeenincorrectlyappliedbytheCollege:

  • failuretopayovertimerateswhenthespreadofhoursworkedbyMsBrysonexceededfourteenhours;
  • failuretopayovertimerateswhentherewaslessthananeighthourbreakbetweenMsBrysonceasingdutyononedayandcommencingonthenextday;
  • failuretopayaminimumengagement periodwhentheengagementwasforonehour;
  • failuretopayovertimeforhoursworkedinexcessof7.6inanyonedayasacasualemployee;
  • failuretopayovertimeforhoursworkedinexcessof7.6inanyoneday,oroutsiderosteredhoursasapart-timeemployee;
  • incorrectinterpretationofthepaymentforpublicholidays;
  • failuretopayafourhourminimumwhenMsBrysonworkedforlessthanfourhoursonapublicholiday;
  • morethanfivehoursofcontinuousworkwithnomealbreak;and
  • paymentatacasualratherthanapart-timerateofpay.

AccordingtotheevidenceofMrO'Neill,theamountowedtoMsBrysonis$8,595.86comprisingthefollowingamountsfortheperiodsubjectofthepresentapplication:

2001-Underpaid$ 348.97

2002-Underpaid$2,657.90

2003-Underpaid$3,136.14

2004-Underpaid$3,206.74

2005-Overpaid $ 759.52

2006-Underpaid$ 5.63

ThemethodologyadoptedbyMrO'NeilltocalculatetheamountsaidtobeowedtoMsBrysonbytheCollegewasasfollows:

  • paymentofovertime(timeanda-halfforthefirstthreehoursanddoubletimethereafter)foranyhoursinexcessofthespreadoffourteenhours;
  • paymentofdoubletimewhereMsBrysonhadlessthananeighthourbreakbetweenceasingdutyononedayandcommencingdutyonthenext,withsuchpaymentcontinuinguntilMsBrysonreceivedaneighthourbreak;
  • paymentofatwohourminimumengagementincircumstanceswhereMsBrysonhadworkedlessthantwohours;
  • paymentofhoursworkedinexcessof7.6onanydayatovertimerates(timeanda-halfforthefirstthreehoursanddoubletimethereafter);
  • whereMsBrysonwasapart-timeemployee,paymentwascalculatedforpublicholidaysnotworked,onthebasisofhoursthatwouldhavebeenworkedifnotforthepublicholiday;
  • whereMsBrysonworkedonapublicholidayafourhourminimumpaymentattherateofdoubletimeanda-halfwascalculated;
  • whereMsBrysonworkedmorethanfivehourscontinuouslywithoutamealbreak,hoursinexcessoffivewerecalculatedattherateofdoubletime.

Inhisoralevidence,MrO'NeillsaidthatithadbeenassumedthathoursworkedbyMsBrysonwithina14hourspreadeachdaywereordinaryhours,exceptwherethosehoursexceeded7.6. ThisapproachhadbeentakenasaresultofviewsexpressedduringconciliationproceedingsbyanothermemberoftheCommission,inrelationtodisputesbetweenMsBrysonandtheCollege. MrO'NeillalsosaidthatithadbeenassumedthatMsBrysonwasnotentitledtotwoconsecutivedaysoffperweekundertheAwardortheAgreement,eitherasacasualorapart-timeemployee.

MrCrannysaidthatitwashisresponsibilityasBusinessManagertosignoffonalltimesheets. ThemethodusedtoprocesstimesheetsattheCollegewasfortheemployeetocompletethetimesheetandhaveitsignedandverifiedbyhisorhersupervisor. Thesupervisorwouldthenforwardthetimesheettothepayrollofficerwhowouldcollatehoursworkedbytheemployeeonasummarysheet. MrCrannywouldthensignoffonthesummarysheetandforwardittothepayrollofficeattheProvinceCentreinBrisbane. Atalltimestherewasanexpectationthatstaffwouldworkinaccordancewiththeirrosters.

On27May2004amemorandumhadbeenprovidedtoMsBrysonindicatingtheneedtoconservehoursofworkduetobudgetaryconstraintsarisingfromenrolmentsnotbeingasbuoyantashadbeenhoped(referExhibit1AppendixF). AtthatpointtheCollegewasunderfinancialdifficultyduetodecliningenrolments. TheCollegewaslookingatallareasofitsoperationtoreducecosts. Ithadbeenemphasisedtosupervisorsthatrostersneededtobestrictlyadheredtoandthatnoadditionalhoursshouldbeworkedunlesstherewasaspecificneed.

Priortothepresentclaim,therewereatleasttwooccasionswheredisputesbetweenMsBrysonandtheCollegeoccurred,andoneachoftheseoccasionsMsBrysonsoughttheassistanceoftheQueenslandIndustrialRelationsCommission. Thesedisputesrelatedtoallegationsofworkplacebullying;additionalhoursworkedbyMsBrysonwhenanotheremployeewasabsentonWorkCoverandachallengebyMsBrysontoareductioninherhoursofworkduringvacationperiods. AccordingtoMrCranny,thesematterswereconcluded.

MrCrannyconfirmedthatinmid-October2004,MsBrysonbroughttohisattentionthefactthattherewerepaydiscrepancies. Thishadbeeninvestigated,andithadbeenestablishedthatMsBrysonhadbeenpaidasacasualemployeeratherthanapart-timeemployee. MrCrannyconcededthatthiswasanerror. AletterhadbeensenttoMsBrysonacknowledgingtheerrorandabackpayadjustmentofsome$900.00wasmade. ItwasalsobroughttoMsBryson'sattentionthatasacasualemployeeshewaspaidahigherratethanherusualpart-timerateofpay. AnumberofoptionswereofferedtoMsBrysoneithertoacceptthatthehigherrateofpaycompensatedherforleaveentitlementsduringtheperiodinquestion,ortorefundtheoverpaymentoverasuitableperiodoftime,andtohaveherleaveentitlementsforthatperiodcredited.

MrHildenbeutelwasresponsibleforverifyingthenumberofhoursworkedbyMsBrysoneachfortnight. ThiswasdonebysigningoffonthetimesheetsubmittedbyMsBryson. ItistheCollege'spolicythatstaffshouldworkinaccordancewiththeirrosters,andthoserostersmaychangefromtimetotime. Wheneverrosterswerechanged,MrHildenbeutelspoketostaffconcernedandgottheiragreement. GenerallyMsBrysonagreedtorosterchanges,butononeoccasionchallengedachangewhichreducedthenumberofcleaninghourssheworkedovertheschoolvacationperiod.

Inhisaffidavit(Exhibit12) MrHildenbeuteldeniedthatheinstructedMsBrysontofalsifytimesheets. Anotheremployee,MsAstin,wasabsentfollowingaworkers'compensationclaim. MsBrysonhaddisplayedaninterestinworkingextrahours,andMrHildenbeuteltoldMsBrysonthatstaffwerenottoworkovertimeunlessitwasapprovedbyMrCranny. MsBrysonhelpedMrHildenbeutelworkouthowtheadditionalhourscouldberecordedonhertimesheetsothatovertimewouldnotbepayable. MrHildenbeuteldidnotbelievethatthisarrangementwaswrongashewastryingtohelpMsBrysonbygivingherextrahours,andMsBrysonagreedwiththearrangementwhenitwasenteredinto.

Inhisoralevidence,MrHildenbeutelsaidthatMsBrysonhadbeenworkingMsAstin'sshiftsduringherabsenceandbeingpaidatovertimeratesforthatwork. MrCrannyhaddirectedthatovertimewastobereduced. MrHildenbeuteltoldMsBrysonthatthismeanttheadditionalshiftswouldneedtobegiventoanotherstaffmember. MsBrysonbecameagitatedandsaidthatshewantedtokeepthosehours. MsBrysonandMrHildenbeutelhadagreedthattimesheetswouldbecompletedsothatsomeofthehoursactuallyworkedononedaywhichwouldberequiredtobepaidasovertime,wouldberecordedasiftheyhadbeenworkedonanotherday,sothattheywouldnotappeartobeovertimehours. BecauseMrHildenbeutelknewthatMsBrysonwasentitledtoovertimepayments,hewouldaddadditionaltimetothehoursallocatedtootherdays. Forexample,ifMsBrysonworkedtenhoursonaparticularday,twoofthosehourswouldberecordedonhertimesheetasbeingworkedonanotherday,andanadditionalhouralsoaddedthetwohours. AccordingtoMrHildenbeutel,MsBrysonagreedwiththisprocessandsignedtimesheetsimplementingit.

4.RelevantProvisionsoftheAgreementandtheAward

4.1TheAgreement

RelevantprovisionsoftheAgreementareasfollows:

"3.1 Definitions

(1)'FullTimeEmployee'isoneengagedtowork38ordinaryhoursperweekonthebasisof52weeksperannum.

(2)'Part-timeEmployee'isanemployeeengagedtoworkaconstantnumberofordinaryhoursoflessthen38perweekonthebasisof52weeksperannum.

...

(4)'CasualEmployee'shallmeananyemployeeengagedassuchandwhoisemployedbythehourontheclassofworkforwhichheorsheisengaged.

...

3.3WagesandAllowances

...

(4)Uniforms

(a)WhereanEmployerrequiresanyemployeetowearanyspecialuniform,dressorclothingsuchshallbesuppliedbytheEmployerandsuchemployeeshallbepaidanallowanceof$5.00perweekunlesssuchuniform,dressorclothingislaunderedbytheEmployer.

...

(6)WeekendPenalty-Allordinarytimeworkedbyfull-timeemployees(otherthancasualsandpart-timeemployees)onaSaturdayorSundayshallbepaidforattherateoftimeandahalf.

(7)CasualEmployees

(a)Casualemployeesshallbepaidone-thirty-eighth(1/38)oftheappropriateweeklyrateofpayfortheclassificationconcernedandshallbepaidforaminimumoftwohoursperengagement.

(b)Inadditiontotherateprescribedinsubclause(a)thefollowingloadingsshallbepayable:

19%forallordinaryhoursworked.

69%wheretherateofpayisspecifiedastimeandahalf.

119%wheretherateofpayisspecifiedasdoubletime.

169%wheretherateofpayisspecifiedasdoubletimeandahalf.

...

4.1HoursofWork

Theordinaryworkinghoursshallbe7hoursand36minutesperday,38hoursperweekoverfive(5)daysperweekwithtwocontinuousdaysoffperweek. Suchordinaryhoursmaybeworkedwithinamaximumspreadof14hours,inclusiveofanunpaidmealbreak. Thereshallnotbemorethanonebreakduringtheordinarydailyworkinghours.

Subjecttoclause4.2(Implementationof38HourWeek)theordinaryhoursofworkforallemployeesengagedonaweeklyhiringotherthanpart-timeemployeesshallbeanaverageof38hoursperweektobedeterminedwithinthefollowingworkcycles:-

(a)38hourswithinaworkcyclenotexceedingsevenconsecutivedays;or

(b)76hourswithinaworkcyclenotexceedingfourteenconsecutivedays;or

(c)114hourswithinaworkcyclenotexceedingtwenty-oneconsecutivedays;or

(d)152hourswithinaworkcyclenotexceedingtwenty-eightconsecutivedays.

ProvidedthatwheretheEmployerandtheemployeesinaworksectionorsectionsagree,160hoursmaybeworkedwithinaworkcyclenotexceedingtwenty-eightconsecutivedayswithprovisionforonerostereddayoffperfour-weekcyclewhichmaybeaccumulatedandtakenaspaidtimeduringperiodsofschoolvacationsorpaidoutontermination.

ArostershowingstartingandceasingtimesfortheordinaryhoursofdutyofweeklyemployeesandthetimesbetweenwhichtheperiodisallottedforeachmealtogetherwiththesurnameandinitialsofeachemployeeshallbepreparedbytheEmployerandshallbepostedinaconspicuousplaceorplacesaccessibletotheemployeesconcerned. Therostershallbealterablebymutualconsentatanytimeorbyamendmentoftherosteronsevendays'notice. Wherepracticable,twoweeks'noticeofrostereddaysoffshallbegivenprovidedthatthedaysoffmaybechangedbymutualconsentorasrenderednecessarybytheabsenceofotheremployeesfromduty,shortageofstaff,orothercauseoverwhichtheEmployerhasnocontrolandinwhichcasestwelvehours'noticeshallbesufficient:Providedthatrostersshallprovideforaminimumofeight(8)hoursbreakbetweenthefinishofordinaryhoursononedayandthecommencementofordinaryhoursonthefollowingday.

Nightshiftworkersshallworkthesamenumberofhoursinunbrokenshiftsasdayworkersandtheperiodofnightdutyshallnotexceed4weeksinanyoneperiodandeveryemployeecomingoffnightdutyshallhave24hours'leavebeforeagainresumingduty. Noemployeeshallbeaskedtoagaindonightdutyunlesswithhisownconsentuntilhehasworkedaperiodofatleastfourweeksondaywork.

...

4.6Overtime

(1)Allworkdoneinexcessoftheordinaryhoursinanyonedayorbeforetherecognisedstartingtimeoraftertherecognisedceasingtimeshallbedeemedtobeovertimeandshallbepaidforattherateoftimeandahalfforthefirstthreehoursanddoubletimethereafter.

(2)Anyemployeewhoisrequiredtocontinueworkingformorethanoneandahalfhoursaftertheordinaryceasingtimeshallbeallowedthirtyminutesforamealforwhichnodeductionofpayshallbemade. Afurtherforty-fiveminutemealbreakaftereachadditionalfourhoursworkedshallbeallowed,forwhich nodeductionofpayshallbemade.

(3)Alltimeworkedonanemployee'srostereddayoffshallbepaidforattherateoftimeandahalfwithaminimumpaymentasforthreehoursworked.

(4)Whereanemployeeworkssufficientovertimetoaccrueamealbreakasprovidedinsubclauses(2)and(3),suchemployeeshallbepaidthesumof$7.00asmealmoneyor,asanalternative,theEmployershallsupplyfreetosuchemployeeasuitablemealinrespectofeachmealbreakprovidedforherein.

(5)Whereanemployeehasbeenpreviouslynotifiedoftherequirementtoworkovertimeandsuchovertimeisnotthenworked,intheeventoftheemployeehavingprovidedamealasaresultthereof,theemployeeshallbepaidthe$7.00mealallowanceasprovidedinsubclause(4)hereinnotwithstandingthefactthatnosuchovertimeisworked.

(6)AnyemployeerecalledtoworkovertimeafterhavinglefttheEmployer'spremisesshallbepaidfornotlessthantwohoursatovertimeratesinrespectofeachsuchrecall: Providedthattheprovisionsofthissubclauseshallnotapplywheresuchovertimeisworkedcontinuouslywithordinaryhoursofwork.

(7)Whenanemployeehavingworkedovertimefinishesworkatatimewhentheusualmeansoftransportisnotavailable,theEmployershallprovideequivalentsafealternatetransportwithcosttotheEmployee'sresidence.

(8)Anemployeewhoworkssomuchovertimebetweentheterminationofordinaryworkononedayandthecommencementofworkonthenextdaythattheemployeehasnothadatleasteightconsecutivehoursoffdutywithoutlossofpayforordinaryworkingtimeoccurringduringsuchabsence. IfontheinstructionsoftheEmployersuchemployeeresumesorcontinuesworkwithouthavinghadsucheightconsecutivehoursoffduty,theemployeeshallbepaiddoubleratesuntilreleasedfromdutyforsuchperiodandtheemployeeshallbeentitledtobeabsentuntilreceivingeightconsecutivehoursoffdutywithoutlossofpayforordinaryworkingtimeoccurringduringsuchabsence.

(9)Notwithstandingtherateprescribedinsubclause(1)hereof,theremaybeanagreementinwritingbetweentheemployeeandemployertotaketimeoffwithpayequivalenttotheamountforwhichpaymentwouldotherwisehavebeenmade. Suchequivalentaccumulatedtimemustbetakenwithinfourweeksfromthetimeofaccrual,orotherwisepaymentshallbemade.

4.7MealBreaks

(1)Permanentemployeesshallbeentitledtoadailymealbreakofnotlessthanthirtyminutesnormorethanonehour'sduration,tobetakenbetweenfourandsixhoursafterthecommencementofwork,orasatanyothertimeashasbeenmutuallyagreedbetweentheemployerandthemajorityofemployees.

(2)Part-timeemployeesandcasualemployeeswhoareengagedtoworkformorethanfivehoursadayshallbeentitledtoamealbreakofnotlessthanthirtyminutesnormorethanonehours'duration.

(3)Allworkperformedduringarecognisedmealbreakshallbedeemedovertimeandshallbepaidforattherateofdoubletime. Suchrateshallbecontinueduntilabreakoftheusualdurationforamealisallowed.

...

4.9Part-TimeEmployees

(1)'Part-timeEmployee'shallmeananemployee,otherthana'casualemployee'asdefinedinClause3.1ofthisAgreement,whoisengagedtoworkrosteredregularhourseachfortnightwithaminimumengagementoffifteen(15)hoursperfortnight. SuchrostershallshowthestartingandceasingtimesandthedaysuponwhichanemployeeisengagedtoworkaswellasthenumberofhourstobeworkedeachfortnightorasotherwisearrangedbymutualagreementbetweentheEmployerandtheUniontosuittheexigenciesoftheestablishment.

(2)Theordinarydailyworkinghoursshallbeworkedcontinuouslyexcludingmealbreaks,andshallnotbelessthanthree(3)hoursonanydayorsix(6)hoursonanydaywhereasplitshiftisworked. Suchsplitshiftsshallbeworkedbymutualagreementbetweentheemployerandemployee. Suchdailyhoursmaybeworkedwithinamaximumspreadof14hours,inclusiveofanunpaidmealbreakfromthestartingtime. Thereshallnotbemorethanonebreakduringtheordinarydailyworkinghours.

(3)Apart-timeemployeeshallbepaidthehourlyrateprescribedbytheAgreementandinadditionshallbeentitledtoaproratapaymentoftheshiftpremiumwhereappropriate.

(4)Apart-timeemployeeshallbeentitledtoprorataannualleave,sickleave,longserviceleave,andbereavementleaveonthesamebasisaspermanentemployeesandinaccordancewithsubclause(6)hereof. Aswell,whenastatutorydutyholidayfallsuponadaywhichwouldotherwisehavebeenapart-timeemployee'snormalworkingday,apart-timeemployeeshallbeentitledtobepaidforthatstatutoryholiday. Whenastatutoryholidayoccursduringaperiodoftheemployee'sannualleaveanextradayforeachsuchdaysooccurring.

(5)Apart-timeemployeewhoworksmorethantheordinaryprescribedinClause4.1shallbepaidovertimeinaccordancewithClause4.6oftheAgreement.

(6)Subjecttotheprovisionscontainedherein,allotherprovisionsoftheAgreementrelevanttopermanentemployeesshallapplytopart-timeemployees.

(7)TheEmployerwilladviseallemployeesuponengagementthatintheeventofchangedclientutilisationorservicesitbecomesnecessaryfortheEmployertoreducetheworkinghoursofpart-timeemployees,thepreferenceclausewilloperate.".

4.2TheAward

RelevantprovisionsoftheAwardareasfollows:

"4.1Employmentcategories

4.1.1EmployeescoveredbythisAwardshallbeadvisedinwritingoftheiremploymentcategoryuponappointment. Employmentcategoriesare:

(a)Full-time;

(b)Part-time(asprescribedinclause4.3);and

(c)Casual(asprescribedinclause4.4).

4.2Full-timeemployment

'Full-timeEmployee'meansapersonwhoisengagedtoworkonafull-timebasis.

4.3Part-timeemployment

4.3.1Part-timeemploymentisdefinedasanemployeewhoworksalessernumberofhoursthanconstitutefull-timeemploymentunderthisAwardandwhoworksaminimumnumberofhours,being15perweek;andamaximumnumberofhours,being38perweek;andaminimumnumberofconsecutivehours,being3perday;witharegularnumberofordinaryhoursperweek;andanyworkperformedbyapart-timeemployeeoutsideoftheordinaryrosteredhourstobepaidasovertime.

4.3.2Anyvariationstoworkpatternsofapart-timeemployeearetobeinaccordancewithAwardprovisionsforfull-timeemployees.

4.3.3Apart-timeemployeeistobepaidonaproratabasis(proportionatetothenumberofhoursworked)forwagesandemploymentconditionsasspecifiedinthisAwardforfull-timeemploymentforthesamekindofwork.

4.3.4Allotherconditionsforpart-timeemploymentotherthanthosespecifiedabove,shallbethosethatapplytofull-timeemployment.

4.3.5Apart-timeemployeeshallbepaidthehourlyrateprescribedbytheAwardandinadditionshallbeentitledtoaproratapaymentoftheshiftpremiumwhereappropriate.

4.3.6Anemployeewhodoesnotmeetthedefinitionofapart-timeemployeeandwhoisnotafull-timeemployeewillbepaidasacasualemployeeinaccordancewiththisAward.

Whereanemployeeandtheemployeragree,part-timeemploymentmaybeconvertedtofull-timeandviceversaonapermanentbasisorforaspecifiedperiodoftime. Ifsuchasemployeetransfersfromfull-timetopart-time(orviceversa)allaccruedAwardandlegislativeentitlementsshallbemaintained. Followingtransfertopart-timeemploymentaccrualwilloccurinaccordancewiththeprovisionsrelevanttopart-timeemployment.

4.4Casualemployment

4.4.1Acasualemployeemeansanyemployeeengagedassuchandwhoisemployedbythehourontheclassofworkforwhichtheemployeeisengaged.

4.4.2Casualemployees

(a)Casualemployeesshallbepaid1/38thoftheappropriateweeklyrateofpayfortheclassificationconcernedandshallbepaidforaminimumof2hoursperengagement.

(b)Inadditiontotherateprescribedinclause4.4.2(a)thefollowingloadingshallbepayable:

23%forallordinaryhoursworked.

...

5.3Allowances

5.3.1DivisionalandDistrictallowances

AdultemployeesintheMackayDivisionshallbepaid90centsperweekandadultemployeesintheEasternDistrictoftheNorthernDivisionshallbepaid$1.05perweekinadditiontotheratesaboveprescribed.

AdultemployeesintheWesternDistrictoftheSouthernDivisionshallbepaid$1.05perweekandadultemployeesintheWesternDistrictoftheNorthernDivisionshallbepaid$3.25perweekinadditiontotheratesaboveprescribed.

5.3.2Uniforms

(a)Whereanemployerrequiresanyemployeetowearanyspecialuniform,dressorclothingsuchshallbesuppliedbytheemployerandsuchemployeeshallbepaidanallowanceof$5.00perweekunlesssuchuniform,dressorclothingislaunderedbytheemployer.

(b)Whereemployeesareworkinginwetareasanditisthereforenecessarythatwaterprooforotherprotectiveclothingsuchaswaterproofboots,apronsorglovesbewornbyanemployee,theyshallbesuppliedwithsamewithoutcosttotheemployee. Suchprotectiveclothingshallremainthepropertyoftheemployer.

...

6.1HoursofWork

6.1.1Operationof38hourweek

(a)Subjecttoclause6.1.2(Implementationofa38hourweek),andsubjecttotheexceptionshereinafterprovided,theordinaryhoursofworkshallbeanaverageof38perweek,tobeworkedononeofthefollowingbases:

(i)38hourswithinacyclenotexceeding7consecutivedays;

(ii)76hourswithinaworkcyclenotexceeding14consecutivedays;

(iii)114hourswithinaworkcyclenotexceeding21consecutivedays;or

(iv)152hourswithinaworkcyclenotexceeding28days.

(b)Theordinaryhoursofworkshallnotexceed10hoursperday.

(c)Wherenecessary,employeesshallcommencetheirordinaryhoursandbreaksatdifferenttimestoensurecontinuityofservice.

(d)Theordinarystartingandfinishingtimesmaybealteredbytheemployerwiththeagreementofthemajorityofemployeesconcernedtosuitgeographic,safety,climaticortrafficconditions:

ProvidedthatanysuchalteredstartingandfinishingtimewillnotinvokeanypenaltypaymentthatwouldnotbepayableiftheAwardspreadofhourswasobserved.

(e)Employeesarerequiredtoobservethenominatedstartingandfinishingtimesfortheworkday,includingdesignatedbreakstomaximiseavailableworkingtime. Preparationforworkandcleaningupoftheemployee'spersonshallbeintheemployee'stime.

(f)Wherearostereddayfallsonapublicholiday,thefollowingdaymaybetakenwherepracticableinlieuthereofortheemployeeandtheemployermayagreetoanalternativedayoffdutyassubstitution.

(g)Payaveraging

Employeesshallbeentitledtoaweek'swagesinaccordancewithclauses5.2foreachweekofthecycle.

(h)Theentitlementtoarostereddayoffonfullpayshallbesubjecttothefollowing:

(i)eachdayofpaidleavetaken(notincludingannualleave,longserviceleave)andanypublicholidayoccurringduringanycycleof4weeksshallberegardedasadayworkedforaccrualpurposes.

(ii)anemployeewhohasnotworkedacomplete4weekcycleinordertoaccruearostereddayoffshallbepaidaprorataamountforcreditsaccruedforeachdayworkedinsuchcyclepayablefortherostereddayoff(i.e.anamountof24minutesforeach8hourdayworkedor2hoursforeach40hoursworked).

Forthepurposesofclause6.1.1(h),'worked'includespaidleavereferredtoinclause6.1.1(h)(i).

(i)Sicknessonarostereddayoffwhichhasresultedfromthe19daysmonthworkcycle

Whereanemployeeissickorinjuredontheirrostereddayofftheemployeeshallnotbeentitledtosickpaynorshalltheirsickpayentitlementbereducedasaresultofthesicknessorinjuryonthatday.

(j)Paymentofwages

Intheeventthatanemployeebyvirtueofthearrangementoftheemployee'sordinaryworkinghoursisrosteredoffdutyonadaywhichcoincideswithpayday,suchemployeeshallbepaidnolaterthantheworkingdayimmediatelyfollowingsuchpayday.

6.2Rosterposting

Arostershowingstartingandceasingtimesfortheordinaryhoursofdutyofweeklyemployeesandthetimesbetweenwhichtheperiodisallottedforeachmealtogetherwiththesurnameandinitialsofeachemployeeshallbepreparedbytheemployerandshallbepostedinaconspicuousplaceorplacesaccessibletotheemployeesconcerned. Therostershallbealterablebymutualconsentatanytimeorbyamendmentoftherosteron7days'notice. Wherepracticable,2weeks'noticeofrostereddaysoffshallbegivenprovidedthatthedaysoffmaybechangedbymutualconsentorasrenderednecessarybytheabsenceofotheremployeesfromduty,shortageofstaff,orothercauseoverwhichtheemployerhasnocontrolandinwhichcases12hours'noticeshallbesufficient:

...

6.3Mealbreaks

6.3.1Permanentemployeesshallbeentitledtoadailymealbreakofnotlessthan30minutesnormorethanonehour'sduration,tobetakenbetween4and6hoursafterthecommencementofwork,orasatanyothertimeashasbeenmutuallyagreedbetweentheemployerandthemajorityofemployees.

6.3.2Part-timeemployeesandcasualemployeeswhoareengagedtoworkformorethan5hoursadayshallbeentitledtoamealbreakofnotlessthan30minutesnormorethanonehour'sduration.

6.3.3Allworkperformedduringarecognisedmealbreakshallbedeemedovertimeandshallbepaidforattherateofdoubletime. Suchrateshallbecontinueduntilabreakoftheusualdurationforamealisallowed.

...

6.5Overtime

6.5.1Allworkdoneinexcessoftheordinaryhoursinanyonedayorbeforetherecognisedstartingtimeoraftertherecognisedceasingtimeshallbedeemedtobeovertimeandshallbepaidforattherateoftimeanda-halfforthefirst3hoursanddoubletimethereafter.

6.5.2Anyemployeewhoisrequiredtocontinueworkingformorethanoneanda-halfhoursaftertheordinaryceasingtimeshallbeallowed30minutesforamealforwhichnodeductionofpayshallbemade. Afurther45minutemealbreakaftereachadditional4hoursworkedshallbeallowed,forwhichnodeductionofpayshallbemade.

6.5.3Alltimeworkedonanemployee'srostereddayoffshallbepaidforattherateoftimeanda-halfwithaminimumpaymentasfor3hoursworked.

6.5.4Whereanemployeeworkssufficientovertimetoaccrueamealbreakasprovidedinclauses6.5.2and6.5.3,suchemployeeshallbepaidthesumof$9.60asmealmoneyor,asanalternative,theemployershallsupplyfreetosuchemployeeasuitablemealinrespectofeachmealbreakprovidedforherein.

6.5.5Whereanemployeehasbeenpreviouslynotifiedoftherequirementtoworkovertimeandsuchovertimeisnotthenworked,intheeventoftheemployeehavingprovidedamealasaresultthereof,theemployeeshallbepaidthe$9.60mealallowanceasprovidedinclause6.5.4notwithstandingthefactthatnosuchovertimeisworked.

6.5.6Anyemployeerecalledtoworkovertimeafterhavinglefttheemployer'spremisesshallbepaidfornotlessthan2hoursatovertimeratesinrespectofeachsuchrecall:

Providedthattheprovisionsofclause6.5.6shallnotapplywheresuchovertimeisworkedcontinuouslywithordinaryhoursofwork.

6.5.7Whenanemployeehavingworkedovertimefinishesworkatatimewhentheusualmeansoftransportisnotavailable,theemployershallprovideequivalentsafealternatetransportwithoutcosttotheemployee'sresidence.

6.5.8Anemployeewhoworkssomuchovertimebetweentheterminationofordinaryworkononedayandthecommencementofworkonthenextdaythattheemployeehasnothadatleast8consecutivehoursoffdutybetweenthosetimesshall,subjecttoclause6.5.8,bereleasedaftercompletionofsuchovertimeuntiltheemployeehashad8consecutivehoursoffdutywithoutlossofpayforordinaryworkingtimeoccurringduringsuchabsence. Ifontheinstructionsoftheemployersuchemployeeresumesorcontinuesworkwithouthavinghadsuch8consecutivehoursoffduty,theemployeeshallbepaiddoubleratesuntilreleasedfromdutyforsuchperiodandtheemployeeshallbeentitledtobeabsentuntilreceiving8consecutivehoursoffdutywithoutlossofpayforordinaryworkingtimeoccurringduringsuchabsence.

6.5.9Notwithstandingtherateprescribedinclause6.5.1,theremaybeanagreementinwritingbetweentheemployeeandemployertotaketimeoffwithpayequivalenttotheamountforwhichpaymentwouldotherwisehavebeenmade. Suchequivalentaccumulatedtimemustbetakenwithin4weeksfromthetimeofaccrual,orotherwisepaymentshallbemade.".

5.IssuesforDetermination

ItwasapparentfromtheevidencethatthereisnorealdisputeaboutthehoursworkedbyMsBryson. MsBrysonagreedthatthetimesheetstenderedtotheCommission(Exhibit9)areaccurate,otherthanfortheperiod4,5,11,12,18,19,25and26August;1,2,8,9,15and16September;and6and7October2003. Essentially,theissuesindisputecentreonthedifferinginterpretationsplacedbythepartiesonvariousprovisionsoftheAgreementandtheAwardrelatingtoovertime,breaksbetweenworkperiods,overtimecallouts,overtimemealbreaksandthemannerofworkingordinaryhours.

InrelationtotheerrorinpayingMsBrysonasacasualemployeefortheperiodfrom13May2005until14October2005,MsBrysonisnotclaimingforleavelostasaresult. Rather,MsBryson'sclaimforthisperiodisthatshewantstoknowwhoapprovedthechangetogiveherclosure. Further,MsBrysonclaimsthatshewasunderpaidforthisperiodduetotheCollegefailingtocorrectlyapplyAgreementprovisionsrelatingtoovertimecallouts. GiventhattheCollegeconcedesthatthiswasanerror,andtheevidenceofstepstakentoaddressthaterror,Icannottakethematterfurther,otherthantodealwithMsBryson'sclaiminrelationtotheAgreementprovisionsrelatingtoovertimecallouts.

TheCollegeconcedestherehasbeenanunderpaymentofwagestoMsBryson,andotheraspectsofMsBryson'sclaimarenotinissue.

6.Conclusions

IunderstandthatanotherMemberoftheCommissionmayhaveconsideredvariousaspectsofMsBryson'sclaiminconciliationproceedings. Ialsounderstandthatviewsmayhavebeenexpressed,andthatarecommendationwasmadeaboutthecalculationofsomeaspectsofMsBryson'sclaim. However,thoseviewswereexpressedinconciliationproceedingswherethefocusisonresolvingadisputeratherthanastrictawardinterpretation,andIamnotboundbythoseviews.

6.1OrdinaryhoursofworkforcasualemployeesundertheAgreement

GiventhatMsBrysonwasinitiallyemployedbytheCollegeonacasualbasis,thefirstissuefordeterminationisthemannerinwhichordinaryhoursforcasualemployeesmaybeworkedundertheAgreement. Forthefollowingreasons,Idonotacceptthesubmissionsofeitherpartyonthisissue. ThetermsoftheAgreementinrelationtohoursofworkforcasualemployeesarefarfromclear. Itcouldbesaidthattheordinaryhoursforcasualemployeesaresetbydefaultratherthanbyvirtueofaspecificprovision. Clause3.1(4)whichdefinestheterm"CasualEmployee"providesthatemploymentisbythehour,butmakesnoreferencetothemaximumnumberofordinaryhourswhichcanbeworkedbycasualemployees. Clause3.3(7)(a)establishesthebasisforcalculatingtherateofpayforcasualemployeesandrequiresaminimumpaymentoftwohoursforeachengagement. Unlikepart-timeemployeestherearenootherprovisionsoftheAgreementdealingwithhoursofworkforcasualemployees.

Hoursofworkaredealtwithgenerallyinclause4.1oftheAgreement. ThefirstparagraphofClause4.1oftheAgreementdoesnotspecificallyrefertocasualemployees,andcontainsprovisionswhicharguablydonotapplytosuchemployees. Thesecondandfourthparagraphsofclause4.1,byvirtueofthereferencetoemployeesonweeklyhiring,excludescasualemployees. OtherprovisionsofPart4oftheAgreementrelatingtorostereddaysoffandaveragingofhoursdonotapplytocasualemployees,whoarepaidforeachhourthattheywork. Thisisindicativethatcasualemployeesareexcludedfromtheprovisionsofclause4.1oftheAgreement.

IfthisviewistakentheresultisthattherearenomaximumordinaryhoursforcasualemployeesprescribedbytheAgreement. Thiswouldbeanunusualsituation,andifitwasthecasethens.9oftheIndustrialRelationsAct1999wouldprobablyapply. However,thiswasnotarguedonbehalfoftheCollege,anditwasacceptedbybothpartiesintheseproceedingsthatthemaximumordinaryhoursforcasualemployeesare7.6perdayand38perweek. ItwouldappeartobecontrarytostandardhoursofworkprovisionsinindustrialinstrumentstofindthatanAgreementwhichsetsmaximumordinaryhoursforweeklyemployeeshadnosuchprovisionsforcasualemployees. OnthatbasisIacceptthatfortheperiodofMsBryson'sengagementasacasualemployeeunderthetermsoftheAgreement,themaximumnumberofordinaryworkinghoursonanyonedaywas7.6,andinanyweekthemaximumnumberofordinaryworkinghourswas38.

ReadingtheAgreementasawhole,sothatallofitsprovisionshaveeffect,theordinaryhoursforcasualemployeesof7.6perday,maybeworkedwithina14hoursspread,allowingforanymealbreaksasprovidedinclause4.7andrestpausesasprovidedinclause4.8. Ordinaryhoursforcasualemployeescanbesplitintotwoperiodswithinthe14hourspread. However,whereordinaryhoursaresplitintotwoperiods,eachperiodisaseparateengagementtowhichtheminimumpaymentoftwohoursapplies.

Ifprovisionsofthefirstparagraphofclause4.1dealingwithmaximumdailyandweeklyhoursofwork,andthefourteenhourspreadofordinaryhoursapplybydefaulttocasualemployees,thentheprovisionsofthatparagraphrequiringemployeestobegiventwoconsecutivedaysoffmustalsoapply. Itisequallyarguablethatsuchaprovisionrelatestoweeklyfull-timeemployees,oratleasttoemployeesworking38hoursperweek. However,evenifthisprovisiondidapplytocasualemployeesworkinglessthan38hoursperweeksuchasMsBryson,Idonotacceptthatanemployeewhodoesnothavetwocontinuousdaysoffperweek,isentitledtobepaidforworkonthesixthandseventhdayatovertimerates. Overtimeisdefinedinclause4.6asworkdoneinexcessofordinaryhoursinanyonedayorbeforetherecognisedstarttimeoraftertherecognisedceasingtime.

Timeworkedbyanemployeeonthesixthorseventhdayofaweek,whereworkhasbeenperformedonthefirstfivedaysofthatsameweek,doesnotcomewithinthedefinitionofovertimeinclause4.6(1). Further,suchtimeisnotworkedonarostereddayofftoattracttheprovisionsofclause4.6(3). Arostereddayoffisaccruedbyanemployeeworkinga38hourweekinthemannerprovidedforinclause4.1. Foracasualemployeedayswhennoworkisperformedarenotrostereddaysoff. TheAwarddoesnotprescribeapenaltywhereacasualemployeedoesnothavetwoconsecutivedaysoff. WhilethismayconstituteabreachoftheAward,thatisnotamatterwhichcanbedealtwithbytheCommissionaspreviouslyconstituted. Accordingly,IrejectMsBryson'sclaimforovertimeratesforthesixthandseventhdayinanyweekwhereshewasrosteredtoworkontheotherfivedays.

6.2Ordinaryhoursofworkforpart-timeemployeesundertheAgreement

Inmyview,theprovisionsofclause4.1specifyinghoursdailyandweeklyhoursofworkdonotapplytopart-timeemployees. Theordinaryworkinghoursforpart-timeemployeesareestablishedbyclause3.1(2)andclause4.9. Theseclausesstandaloneandarenotsupplementedbytheprovisionsinthefirstparagraphofclause4.1. IcanalsoseenobasisforreadingtheAwardsothatclause4.1derogatesfromclauses3.1(2)and4.9. Byvirtueoftheoperationofclause3.1(2)andclause4.9oftheAgreement,theordinaryhoursofworkforpart-timeemployeesmustbeworkedwithinthefollowingparameters:

  • ordinaryhoursmustbelessthan38perweek;
  • ordinaryhoursmustberosteredsothattheyareregular;
  • apart-timeemployeemustberosteredtoworkforaminimumof15ordinaryhoursperfortnight;
  • aminimumnumberofthreehoursmustberosteredeachdayuponwhichworkisperformed,andasixhourminimumapplieswhereasplitshiftisworked;
  • ordinaryhoursforpart-timeemployeesmaybeworkedwithinadailyspreadof14hours,includingmealbreaksandrestpausestowhichpart-timeemployeesareentitledundertheprovisionsofclauses4.7and4.8oftheAgreement;and
  • ordinaryhoursforpart-timeemployeesmaybesplitintotwoperiodswithinthe14hourspread-splitshifts.

Providedthattheseparametersaremet,apart-timeemployeemayberosteredtoworkmorethan7.6ordinaryhoursinanyoneday. Thedailylimitsaresetbythe14hourspreadandmealbreakentitlements. Further,theprovisionsrelatingtotheestablishmentofrostersinclause4.1applytopart-timeemployeesonthebasisthattheyareweeklyemployees,andtherearenootherprovisionsrelatingtothesamematter. ItisalsoclearthatallchangestoMsBryson'srosterwereimplementedbyagreementbetweenMsBrysonandtheCollegeinaccordancewiththerequirementsinclause4.1oftheAgreement.

6.3OvertimeprovisionsundertheAgreement

Overtimeispayableunderclause4.6oftheAgreementwithrespecttoallhoursworkedinexcessoftheordinaryhoursinoneday,orbeforetherecognisedstartingtimeoraftertherecognisedceasingtime. DuringtheperiodwhenMsBrysonwasemployedasacasualemployeeundertheAgreement,shewasentitledtobepaidatovertimeratesforhoursworkedinexcessof7.6inanyonedayor38inanyweek. Duringtheperiodfrom27January2003to20April2005whenMsBrysonwasapart-timeemployeeundertheAgreementshewasentitledtobepaidatovertimeratesforhoursworkedinexcessofordinaryhoursrosteredinaccordancewiththeparameterssetoutabove,orforhoursworkedbeforetherecognisedstartingtimeoraftertherecognisedceasingtime.

HoursworkedbyMsBrysonbetween4Augustand7October2003,whenshefilledinforMsAstin,wereachangetoherroster,agreedbetweenMsBrysonandtheCollege. MsBrysonisnotentitledtobepaidforthesehoursatovertimeratessimplybecausetheyareinadditiontoherownhoursorbecausethosehourswerepreviouslyworkedbyanotheremployee. RatherMsBrysonisentitledtopaymentofovertimeforthesehours,whereasaresultofworkingthem,herhoursofworkwereoutsideoftheparametersforordinaryhourswhichmaybeworkedbypart-timeemployeesundertheAgreement. Forthereasonssetoutabove,duringtheperiodMsBrysonwasemployedonapart-timebasisundertheAgreement,shewasnotentitledtobepaidatovertimeratessimplybecauseherordinaryworkinghoursasvariedfromtimetotimeexceeded7.6onanygivenday.

Inmyview,casualandpart-timeemployeesareentitledtotheprovisionsofclause4.6(8)oftheAgreementsothattheyhaveeightconsecutivehoursoffdutybetweenceasingordinaryworkononedayandstartingordinaryworkonthenextday. Casualandpart-timeemployeesmayalsobeentitledtotheprovisionsofclause4.6(6)oftheAgreementwheretheyarerecalledtoworkovertimeafterleavingtheemployer'spremises. However,thisprovisionwouldnotapplywhereanemployeewasworkingasplitshiftinaccordancewitharoster,evenincircumstanceswheresomeovertimewasworkedatthestartorthecompletionofthesplitshift. Inthepresentcase,IamnotsatisfiedthatMsBrysonhasestablishedanentitlementtoanysuchpayment. IamunabletobesatisfiedthatwhereMsBrysonclaimstohaveattendedforworktwiceonthesameday,thatsuchattendancewasnotinaccordancewithbeingrosteredtoworkasplitshiftratherthanarecalltoworkovertime. Further,giventhatMsBryson'sdiariesdonotshowthestartingandfinishingtimesofperiodsofwork,itisnotestablishedonthebalanceofprobabilitiesthatshedidattendforworktwiceontheoneday. Accordingly,IrejectMsBryson'sclaimforpaymentunderthisprovisionoftheAgreement.

Itisalsothecasethatovertimemealbreaksareonlypayablewhereanemployeecontinuestoworkformorethanoneanda-halfhoursoutsidetheordinaryceasingtime. Evenwheresplitshiftsareworked,wherethesecondperiodofworkincludesovertimesothattheemployeeworksanadditionaloneanda-halfhoursafterthemaximumordinarydailyworkinghours,employeesareentitledtoanovertimemealbreakinaccordancewithclause4.6.2oftheAgreement.

6.4Ordinaryhoursofworkforpart-timeemployeesundertheAward

GiventhatMsBrysonwasemployedonapart-timebasisatalltimeswhentheAwardappliedwithrespecttoherclaim,itisnotnecessarytoexaminetheoperationoftheAwardwithrespecttocasualemployees. TheprovisionsoftheAwardgoverningordinaryhoursofworkforpart-timeemployeesareclearerthanthoseoftheAgreement. Ordinaryhoursofworkforpart-timeemployeesmustbeworkedinaccordancewithclause4.3oftheAward. Clause4.3oftheAwardestablishesthefollowingparameterswithrespecttoordinaryhoursofworkforpart-timeemployees.

Inaccordancewithclause4.3.1oftheAward,ordinaryhoursforpart-timeemployeesmustbelessthanordinaryhoursforfulltimeemployees - i.e.lessthan38ordinaryhoursperweek. Aminimumof15ordinaryhoursperweekandthreeordinaryhoursperdaymustbeworkedbypart-timeemployees. Somewhatconfusingly(giventhattheordinaryhoursforpart-timeemployeesmustbelessthanthoseforfulltimeemployees)themaximumnumberofordinaryhoursforpart-timeemployeesissetat38perweek. Theremustbearegularnumberofordinaryhoursperweekandbyvirtueofclause4.3.2,anyvariationstoworkpatternsforpart-timeemployeesaretobeinaccordancewithAwardprovisionsforfulltimeemployees. Byvirtueofclause6.2oftheAwardrostersmaybealteredbymutualagreementatanytime,orwithsevendaysnoticebytheemployer. ThereisnoevidencethatanychangestoMsBryson'srosterwereimplementedotherthanasprovidedforintheAward-thatiswithMsBryson'sagreement.

Clause4.3oftheAwarddoesnotprescribeamaximumnumberofordinaryhourswhichcanbeworkedbypart-timeemployeesonanyday. However,clause4.3(2)doesprovidethatallotherconditionsforpart-timeemploymentotherthanthoseprescribedinclauses4.31to4.3.3,shallbethosethatapplytofulltimeemployment. Significantly,clause6.1.1(b)whichdealswithordinaryhoursofworkforfull-timeemployeesprovidesthatordinaryhoursofworkshallnotexceedtenhoursperday. Becauseclause4.3oftheAwardissilentastothemaximumnumberofordinaryhoursperdaywhichcanbeworkedbypart-timeemployees,clause6.1.1(b)appliestoestablishamaximumoftenordinaryhoursperday.

Further,thereisnoentitlementforemployeesundertheAwardtobegiventwoconsecutivedaysoffperweek. Asapart-timeemployeeundertheAward,MsBrysonwasnotentitledtorostereddaysoff,andthepenaltiesapplicableforworkonsuchdaysdonotapplywhereMsBrysonworkedonthesixthorseventhdayofanyweek,whereshehadalreadyworkedonthefirstfivedays,orwhereMsBryson'srosterdidnotprovidefortwoconsecutivedaysoffperweek.

6.5Overtimeforpart-timeemployeesundertheAward

Overtimeisdefinedinclause6.5oftheAwardasallworkdoneinexcessoftheordinaryhoursonanyonedayorbeforetherecognisedstartingtimeoraftertherecognisedfinishingtime. Forthereasonssetoutin6.4above,duringtheperiodwhenMsBrysonworkedunderthetermsoftheAward,shewasentitledtoovertimeonlywhensheworkedinexcessoftenordinaryhoursinanyonedayoroutsidehernormalstartorfinishtime. ThereisnoevidenceofMsBrysonbeingrequiredtoworkmorethan38hoursinanyweekduringtheperiodheremploymentwasgovernedbytheAward. Itisaccordinglynotnecessarytoresolvetheconflictinclause4.3.1inrelationtothemaximumnumberofweeklyhoursspecifiedforcasualemployeesinclause4.3.

Part-timeemployeesareentitledtoanovertimemealbreakunderclause6.5.2oftheAwardwheretheywork1.5hoursaftertheirusualceasingtime.

TheprovisionsoftheAgreementenablingsplitshiftstobeworked,arenotfoundintheAward. Accordingly,theAwarddoesnotprovideforemployeestoberosteredfortwoseparateperiodsofworkontheoneday,otherthanwhensuchperiodsarepunctuatedbymealbreaksorrestpauses. However,aspreviouslynoted,MsBryson'sdiariesdonotindicatethetimesthatvariousperiodsofworkstartedandfinishedonanygivenday. Further,therosterprovidingfortwoseparateworkperiodsononedaywasineffectwhileMsBrysonwasemployedundertheAgreementwhichdidprovideforsplitshifts. ThereisnoevidenceofanysuchrosterduringtheperiodtheAwardapplied. Accordingly,Iamunabletobesatisfiedthattheprovisionsofclause6.5.6prescribingpenaltiesforemployeesrecalledtoworkovertime,appliedtoMsBrysonwhileheremploymentwascoveredbytheAwardandIrejectthataspectofherclaim.

6.6OtheraspectsofMsBryson'sclaim

OtheraspectsofMsBryson'sclaimareeitherunsustainableorwerenotpursued. Despitespendingtimeinthehearingcross-examiningwitnessesaboutnotbeingpaidforsickleave,MsBrysondidnotpursuethismatterandprovidedinsufficientevidencetojustifythisaspectofherclaim. Similarly,MsBrysonsoughttoestablishwhoauthorisedthepurportedchangetohercontractofemploymentin2005ratherthantopursueanyclaimforunpaidwagesinrespectofleaveforthatperiod. Thiswassimplyirrelevant,particularlygiventheconcessiononbehalfoftheCollegethatthechangewasanerrorandshouldnothaveoccurred. ThecalculationsattachedtoMsBryson'sapplicationindicatethataclaimforauniformallowanceisincluded. MsBrysonhasnotestablishedthatshewasrequiredtowearauniform. Thereisnoevidenceuponwhichaclaimforauniformallowancecouldbebased. Irejectthisaspectoftheclaim.

MsBryson'sclaimsforweekendpenaltyratesunderclauses3.3(6)oftheAgreementand6.6.2oftheAwardaremisconceived. Bothclausesclearlystatethattheyhavenoapplicationtopart-timeorcasualemployees. Similarly,forreasonssetoutabove,MsBrysonwasnotentitledtoovertimepaymentsforworkonrostereddaysoffunderclauses4.6.3oftheAgreementand6.5(3)oftheAward,becauseasacasualandlaterapart-timeemployee,shedidnotworkinamannerwherebysheaccruedrostereddaysoff. OtheraspectsofMsBryson'sclaimhavebeenconcededonbehalfoftheCollege.

IdonotcondonetheactionsofMrHildenbeutelinparticipatinginthealterationofMsBryson'stimesheets. However,IacceptthatMsBrysonwasnotcoerced,wasawillingparticipant,andtosomeextentaninstigatorofwhatoccurred. IalsoacceptthatMrHildenbeutelwasprincipallymotivatedtogiveMsBrysontheadditionalhoursthatshesoughtandtookstepstoattempttocompensateMsBrysonforthelostovertime,byallowinghertoclaimwagesforhoursnotworked. HavingheardMsBryson'sclaim,andwitnessedherabilitytopressargumentsforwhatshebelievesareherentitlements,IcanwellunderstandwhyMrHildenbeutelmighthavesoughttoappeaseMsBryson. Regardlessofthereasonsforthechangestothetimesheets,theresultwasthatMsBrysonwasunderpaidforthatperiod,andsheisentitledtomountaclaimonthatbasis. InmyviewMrsBrysonwillbeadequatelycompensatedforanyunderpaymentforthisperiodbytheamountorderedtobepaidtoherin6.7below.

6.7Order

Onbalance,IhavedecidedtoawardMsBrysontheamountconcededonbehalfoftheCollegeattheoutsetoftheseproceedings. Ihavereachedthisconclusionforthefollowingreasons. IgenerallyacceptthecalculationsundertakenbyMrO'NeillinpreferencetothoseofMsBryson.. MsBrysonacceptedthathertimesheetswerecorrect,otherthanduringtheperiodbetween4Augustand7October2003whenhertimesheetswerealteredinconjunctionwithMrHildenbeutel. ThecalculationsonbehalfoftheCollegeweremadewithreferencetothosetimesheets. ManyoftheclaimsmadebyMsBrysonaremisconceivedinthattheyarebasedonmisinterpretationofprovisionsoftheAgreementandtheAward. MsBrysonhasnottakenintoaccountaperiodofsixminuteseachdayatordinaryrates. WhilethismayappeartobeaninsignificantmatterintheeyesofMsBryson,overtheperiodoftheclaimitislikelythatsixminutesoneachdaythatovertimeisclaimedisanamountofsomesubstance.

WhilethecalculationsconductedbyMrO'Neillareincorrectinrelationtoovertimemealpayments,thisismorethanoffsetbythefactthattheoffermadeonbehalfoftheCollegeiscalculatedtothedisadvantageoftheCollegeintermsoftheprovisionsoftheAgreementandtheAward. Inshort,thecalculationsonbehalfoftheCollegearepredicatedonpart-timeemployeesunderboththeAgreementandtheAwardbeinglimitedtoworking7.6ordinaryhoursinaday. WhilethismethodofcalculationisunderstandablegiventhelengthyhistoryofMsBryson'sclaimandtheconciliationproceedingsconductedbyanotherMemberoftheCommission,itisnotcorrect. IhavenodoubtthatifasecondcalculationwasdoneinaccordancewiththetermsoftheAgreementandtheAward,theamountowedtoMsBrysonwouldbelessthantheamountconcededbytheCollege. Commendably,theCollegedidnotseektoreserveitspositioninrelationtothecalculationintheeventthattheCommissionruledthatalesseramountwasowedtoMsBryson. ThisisunderstandablegiventheinordinateamountoftimeandeffortwhichhasbeenexpendedinrelationtoMsBryson'sclaims.

IorderthatStBrendan'sCollege,Yeppoon,paytoMsRenateBrysontheamountof$8,595.86withinsevendaysofthedateofreleaseofthisdecision.

I.C.ASBURY,Commissioner.
HearingDetails:
200725May
12and13June
Released: 12 December 2007 / Appearances:
Theapplicantonherownbehalf.
MrK.CuddihyoftheQueenslandCatholicEducationCommissionfortherespondent.

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The State of Queensland 2007.