❓ Question on Notice regarding attraction and retention benefits (ARBs) paid to WA public sector employees. The answer provides information on the criteria, processes, and controls surrounding ARBs, but defers some specific data requests to the Minister for Commerce.
AnsweredQoN 2469Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the payment of attraction and retention benefits to public sector employees, and ask -
(1) What criteria do employees need to meet, to be eligible to receive an attraction and retention benefit (ARB)?
(2) How many employees, and in which departments/agencies, received ARBs in, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(3) What was the total amount paid as ARB’s in the public sector in, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(4) What controls are in place to ensure the payment of ARBs is approved only in appropriate circumstances?
(5) Are ARBs approved to individual employees or to specific job positions?
(6) If approval is to job positions, how often are ARB entitlements reviewed, to ensure the staff member occupying the position in question, has the appropriate qualifications and skills to be entitled to receive an ARB?
(1) What criteria do employees need to meet, to be eligible to receive an attraction and retention benefit (ARB)?
(2) How many employees, and in which departments/agencies, received ARBs in, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(3) What was the total amount paid as ARB’s in the public sector in, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(4) What controls are in place to ensure the payment of ARBs is approved only in appropriate circumstances?
(5) Are ARBs approved to individual employees or to specific job positions?
(6) If approval is to job positions, how often are ARB entitlements reviewed, to ensure the staff member occupying the position in question, has the appropriate qualifications and skills to be entitled to receive an ARB?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 August 2010
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Premier
Response time
75 days
Public Sector Commissioner advises:
(1) Prior to 2 May 2010, "Approved Procedure 7 - Determining Remuneration - Attraction and Retention Benefits" (ARBs) provided a mechanism for employees to receive attraction and/or retention benefits in instances where there were substantiated difficulties in attracting and retaining employees for positions that are in remote areas, specialist in nature or subject to market rates.
Effective 2 May 2010, the Approved Procedure was reviewed and amended to "Approved Procedure 7 - Attraction and Retention Incentives" (ARIs).
Proposals to provide ARBs/ARIs to senior executive service employees must be submitted to the Public Sector Commissioner, and non-senior executive service proposals are submitted to the Department of Commerce. All proposals are assessed against criteria outlined in Approved Procedure 7 and related Guidelines [see tabled paper no].
(2-3 c) The Public Sector Commissioner does not collect specific information regarding the actual amounts paid through ARBs/ARIs across the public sector for senior executive service officers, although each agency would be able to provide the amount paid for the specified periods.
Figures for ARBs/ARIs for non-senior executive service employees approved by the Department of Commerce in accordance with Approved Procedure 7, has to be answered by the relevant Minister, which is the Minister for Commerce.
The number of senior executive service employees, their departments/agencies, and ARBs/ARIs approved in accordance with Approved Procedure 7 in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as at 27 May 2010 is reflected in the attached table. [see tabled paper no].
As at 27 May 2010, there were 21 ARBs to senior executive service employees in force.
(4) ARBs/ARIs for senior executive service employees approved by the Public Sector Commissioner are considered on a 'case by case' basis in accordance with Approved Procedure 7 and the relevant Guidelines.
(5) ARBs/ARIs for senior executive service employees have generally been applied to individual employees or in instances where attraction issues have arisen.
(6) The time-frame for the review of an ARB/ARI is specific to each request and circumstance and is applied in accordance with Approved Procedure 7 and the relevant Guidelines.
In this regard, the ARB Guidelines provided for:
.
a mechanism for the employer to control and review their effectiveness;
.
allows the employer to reduce or cease benefits if the reason for their introduction diminishes or ceases to exist and
.
is subject to a legal instrument and specified term.
The current ARI Guidelines provide for ARIs to be aligned, in full or part, to the attainment of predetermined milestones and/or operational/project targets.
Where changes are sought to an approved ARI or its specified term concludes, and there is a need to continue the incentive at the conclusion of that specified term, a further application is to be made to re-establish a new incentive in accordance with Approved Procedure 7.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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(1) Prior to 2 May 2010, "Approved Procedure 7 - Determining Remuneration - Attraction and Retention Benefits" (ARBs) provided a mechanism for employees to receive attraction and/or retention benefits in instances where there were substantiated difficulties in attracting and retaining employees for positions that are in remote areas, specialist in nature or subject to market rates.
Effective 2 May 2010, the Approved Procedure was reviewed and amended to "Approved Procedure 7 - Attraction and Retention Incentives" (ARIs).
Proposals to provide ARBs/ARIs to senior executive service employees must be submitted to the Public Sector Commissioner, and non-senior executive service proposals are submitted to the Department of Commerce. All proposals are assessed against criteria outlined in Approved Procedure 7 and related Guidelines [see tabled paper no].
(2-3 c) The Public Sector Commissioner does not collect specific information regarding the actual amounts paid through ARBs/ARIs across the public sector for senior executive service officers, although each agency would be able to provide the amount paid for the specified periods.
Figures for ARBs/ARIs for non-senior executive service employees approved by the Department of Commerce in accordance with Approved Procedure 7, has to be answered by the relevant Minister, which is the Minister for Commerce.
The number of senior executive service employees, their departments/agencies, and ARBs/ARIs approved in accordance with Approved Procedure 7 in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as at 27 May 2010 is reflected in the attached table. [see tabled paper no].
As at 27 May 2010, there were 21 ARBs to senior executive service employees in force.
(4) ARBs/ARIs for senior executive service employees approved by the Public Sector Commissioner are considered on a 'case by case' basis in accordance with Approved Procedure 7 and the relevant Guidelines.
(5) ARBs/ARIs for senior executive service employees have generally been applied to individual employees or in instances where attraction issues have arisen.
(6) The time-frame for the review of an ARB/ARI is specific to each request and circumstance and is applied in accordance with Approved Procedure 7 and the relevant Guidelines.
In this regard, the ARB Guidelines provided for:
.
a mechanism for the employer to control and review their effectiveness;
.
allows the employer to reduce or cease benefits if the reason for their introduction diminishes or ceases to exist and
.
is subject to a legal instrument and specified term.
The current ARI Guidelines provide for ARIs to be aligned, in full or part, to the attainment of predetermined milestones and/or operational/project targets.
Where changes are sought to an approved ARI or its specified term concludes, and there is a need to continue the incentive at the conclusion of that specified term, a further application is to be made to re-establish a new incentive in accordance with Approved Procedure 7.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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