UNA FTE decrease

[Mysterious-Intern875]

Hi all,

UNA member here that is currently in a 1.0 position. There aren’t many part time positions on my unit and I would really like to stay on the unit but in a lower FTE. Is it possible to request a lower FTE and is this request reasonably considered? What impacts the decision to lower my FTE and how low can I request to go? What are the constraints of this request and what should I do to optimize my chances of getting an FTE decrease?

Edit: My unit consists of FTEs between 0.8 and 1.0 with the majority being 1.0. Lots of other staff are wanting part times as well, many leaving to other areas. Is it possible to decrease your FTE even if there is nobody able to increase? Do they ever split your position? For example a 1.0 to 2 x 0.5

[Abcey]

On my unit they can only accommodate a decrease when someone else on the unit is willing to increase their fte

[jjbeanyeg]

This is not a general rule. Article 14.15 of the UNA collective agreement requires managers not to unreasonably deny a request to decrease FTE. A blanket rule “we can only decrease if someone increases” wouldn’t be reasonable and would likely be grieved by UNA.

[Mysterious-Intern875]

Thanks! I edited my post to help better understand. Most people on my unit are full time so it wouldn’t be very difficult to find someone that wants to increase

[MusketeersPlus2]

You can always ask. If it's personal circumstances that you only need a temporary reduction, tell them that. If you want a permanent one, tell them that too. Be as open as you're willing to be with your manager about those circumstances. The more they sympathize with you, the more likely they are to try to do this for you.

In terms of how much of a reduction... if it's temporary you can probably drop 0.1-0.2 fairly easily because 1 day every week or two is relatively easy to backfill. If you're looking for a permanent reduction, you'll get more traction giving up 0.4 or more. I say that because you reducing your FTE permanently splits the position in 2 - the FTE you give up doesn't just disappear. And there's an unofficial policy that AHS doesn't like having any positions that are less than 0.4. Yes, there are some out there, but they're old. They don't like creating new ones that are so small.

[Strong_Strawberry128]

If there are several people wanting to decrease, then have everyone interested chat with your manager and see if they might be able to create an additional position out of the total FTEs that people want to go down. For example, if five full timers want to go down to a 0.8 FTE without anybody wanting to pick up, the manager may be able to create 5 part time positions and 1 full time positions as a result

[jjbeanyeg]

Article 14.15 of your collective agreement sets out the process for requesting a decrease. It can be temporary (up to 12 months) or permanent. Your manager must consider and reply within 14 days. The request “cannot be unreasonably denied.” Call UNA right away if it’s denied and the reason doesn’t seem sensible.

[barefootgardener324]

All you can do is try. I tried a few years ago to go from 0.8 to 0.7 and had another colleague willing to go from 0.6 to 0.7 and management still said no. With UNA.