Special Payments
Overview
A special payment may be paid to employees in the teacher, paraprofessional or education support classes for the following purposes:
- undertaking a task that is additional to the responsibilities that can be required of the employee at their respective classification level and salary range
- as an attraction and/or retention incentive
- other purposes determined by the Secretary.
Task related special payments
Task related special payments are flexible in amount and tenure. Tasks that might attract a special payment should be determined taking into account the following factors:
- the responsibilities and duties allocated to those in promotion positions
- the duties and tasks appropriately undertaken by employees at their current classification and range and
- the appropriate mix of special payments for tasks and other options such as time allowances
- the work value of the task
Special payments may range between $500 and $7,000 per task per annum. Principals may determine different amounts for a task related special payment depending on the classification level and range of the successful applicant. This decision must be communicated as part of the advertisement process for special payments. This will ensure that applicants have a clear understanding of the amount of the special payment.
In the allocation of organisational duties to teachers (which may or may not attract a special payment) principals must ensure the process set in clause 21(11) of the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2008 is followed. This process includes the selection requirements set out below.
Where an employee is performing the full range of duties associated with a task, the employee is entitled to receive the full amount specified irrespective of their time fraction.
An employee in receipt of a special payment on a fortnightly basis for a continuous period of less than 12 months immediately prior to an absence on personal leave with pay, will continue to receive the special payment for up to one month or the expiration of the special payment, whichever is the earlier.
An employee in receipt of a special payment on a fortnightly basis for a continuous period of 12 months immediately prior to the commencement of paid leave (including personal leave with pay) and who would have continued to receive the special payment but for his or her absence on leave, will continue to be paid the special payment during the period of paid leave.
Selection
Principals are required to use a merit-based selection process for the assignment of task related special payments of more than three months duration that includes inviting expressions of interest from interested employees. The selection process should be consistent with the requirements set out in the Recruitment in Schools Guide (PDF - 582Kb) including the establishment of a panel.
Principals may temporarily assign, without a selection process, a task related special payment to another employee if the employee in receipt of that special payment is absent for more than one week but less than three months.
Attraction and retention related special payments
Principals may pay a special payment not exceeding $7,000 per annum (in one or more lump sum payments) to a person to attract or retain that person. In considering whether an attraction or retention special payment is appropriate principals will have regard to the following factors:
- the degree of difficulty in attracting a suitable person
- the level of skill, experience and qualifications which the person may possess
- is the risk of the employee leaving the Teaching Service real or perceived
- the degree of difficulty in replacing the employee
- the current salary of the employee
- opportunities for future salary increases
- relativity with the salary levels of other employees performing similar duties
Where an attraction or retention related special payment is approved it is confined to the school in which it is granted. That is, should the employee leave the school that person will have no entitlement to any unpaid portion of the special payment.
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