Posted By Glyn Atkinson
We have similar situations where work is paid in gang pools to all work areas on a time and motion basis.

Each completed production unit earns a bonus payment into the pool fund as well as normal attendance money per gang member.

These people can be moved around areas or production lines as skilled multi-task "floaters" all of the time, so could be paid bonus money each week from up to eight different pools, depending on total hours worked in each section.

This can obviously discriminate against one member of any gang who perhaps is capable of the job requirements, but cannot achieve the required speed element of the task to hand - each bay area moves up the production line at set time periods - usually around 25 minutes depending on model being produced.

Is a reasonable adjustment made where a gang "carry" a work mate and costs them cash?

Does the person under health surveillence or return to work review or permanent disability have to be temporarily or permanently moved to an ancilliary function area where the time element is not such an issue - eg stores etc?

The worker may be relying on the bonus element of his money, whether rightly or wrongly, and ask to stay with their gang - a difficult situation to control.

The worker's welfare and recovery has to be paramount, but can then drag in HR problems - where do we fit the person, is there really going to be a future position?

It's a nightmare to oversee the safety elements of this type of working environment.

You can involve Occ Health, HR, medical experts, H&S, trade unions, safety reps, senior managers and directors etc, and still not come to a totally amicable solution - but hey, that's life and work, folks !!

My sympathies to any others in similar circumstances !!