The HSE has finally issued a memo and principles document on the reduction of working hours from 1st July 2022.
In summary, the standard working hours for medical scientists in public hospitals will be 35h from 1st July 2022 and all staff working the standard hours are entitled to the full standardised annual leave amounts.
Staff on reduced hours have the option of reducing their hours pro rata or retaining the longer hours, with an increase in pay, annual leave and reckonable service for pension purposes. Because of recruitment and retention pressures, the preference of the HSE is for staff to retain hours but it is the choice of the staff member. There is also the option to seek to increase working hours further on a permanent basis.