The following applies to all employees except those employed on teachers terms and conditions of employment for which separate arrangements are in place.
As part of our commitment to developing a workforce for the future, North Lanarkshire Council recognises the significance of providing opportunities for employees to temporarily act up to a higher graded post or to undertake additional higher duties.
Acting Up (Applies for Vacant Posts only)
Acting up is when an employee temporarily takes on the full or majority of the duties of a vacant post that is graded higher than their substantive post. On most occasions, employees will assume 100% of the duties of the vacant post, however there may be situations where a lesser percentage will be required (ie the person is not qualified to do the full remit of the post). If the requirement for cover is less than 80% of the duties of the post, higher duties arrangements should be applied.
Acting up should only be used when it has been established that a post will be vacant for a significant period of time.
Higher Duties
Higher duties apply to employees who are required to undertake higher level duties in addition to those of their substantive post for a temporary period of time for business requirements. These duties will be at a demonstratively higher level of complexity than those of the employee’s substantive grade duties and will be assigned to a job role evaluated at a higher grade. Higher duties are normally not paid at 100% however there may be circumstances where this is necessary, such as short notice cover that is only required for a limited period of time. Higher duties can also be approved if there is a need for a specific function of work and/or task to be undertaken, the nature of which is determined as being at a higher level of complexity than the employee’s substantive duties.
Payment
Payment for acting up or undertaking higher duties will be made from the commencement date irrespective of grade, however employees will not be paid higher duties or acting up payments during periods of leave.
Further information
Further information can be found in the Acting Up and Higher Duties for Single Status Employees Guidance which can be accessed below.