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If your employer changes your roster with less than 14 days’ notice, under the 2024 – 2028 Victorian public sector nurses and midwives EBA – you’re entitled to a ‘change of roster allowance’.
How much is this worth?
- Without 14 days’ notice – $40.70 per occasion
- Without 7 days’ notice – $81.40 per occasion
What situations could I claim the allowance?
Your unit manager contacts you to change your PM to an AM for your shift tomorrow. If you accept, you’re eligible for the ‘change of roster without 7 days’ notice’ and must be paid an extra $81.40 allowance in your next pay.
Where the allowance doesn’t apply, is when you:
- voluntarily swap a shift with a colleague
- volunteer to pick up an extra shift
- volunteer or make the request for any changes
Hot tips for ensuring you’re paid correctly
- When accepting a change to your roster (and its within 14 days’ notice) remind your manager in that conversation about your entitlement – ‘No worries happy to help, can you ensure the change of roster allowance goes into my next pay?’
- You can also document your eligibility by emailing your N/MUM advising of the shift change and requesting the change of roster allowance be sent to payroll for your next pay.
- Check your next pay slip to ensure the correct allowance has been paid. You’ll need to be proactive and advocate for yourself as your employer will be unlikely to chase this on your behalf.
Haven’t been paid the allowance?
Write to your manager and payroll office
If your roster changes with less than 14 days’ notice and you have not been paid the change of roster allowance, make sure you raise this matter with your manager and payroll in writing, so you have a record.
The following is an example of your first email re non-payment change of roster allowance
To: “immediate manager” “Payroll”
cc: records@anmfvic.asn.au
Re: Underpayment of wages
Dear XXX
I write to formally request that I receive payment of the Change of Roster Allowance I believe I am entitled to.
In pay period ending xx/xx I <<picked up additional shifts>> and/or <<my roster changed without 14 days’ notice>> on the following occasions:
<<insert shift dates>>
I request that this underpayment be rectified in my next pay. I am happy to meet at a mutually acceptable time, accompanied by the ANMF Organiser, should you require this.
<<Name>>,<<employee number>>
If you don’t receive a positive response – or indeed any response – please send a second email for example as follows:
To: “HR manager” “Payroll Manager”
cc: records@anmfvic.asn.au
Re: Underpayment of wages
Dear XXX
I write further to my email of xx date to formally escalate my request that I receive an offline payment to rectify an underpayment I am owed.
I requested that this underpayment be rectified within 7 days. I am happy to meet at a mutually acceptable time, accompanied by the ANMF Organiser, should you require this.
<<Name>>,<<employee number>>
If you don’t receive a positive response – or indeed any response to your second email, please notify ANMF via member assistance (scroll down for button to login)
We know how busy it gets, and it’s easy to prioritise other things, but please know this is one of the many hard-earned entitlements ANMF members have fought for. You deserve to be paid correctly and on time – every time!
