UK International Offices An empirical review of working conditions

Transcription

1 UK International Offices An empirical review of working conditions Tony Westaway Director, International Office, Loughborough University, UK and Chair, BUILA British Universities International Liaison Association 1

2 Introduction o Are you entitled to Business Class Travel? o Can you claim Time off in Lieu for out of hours working whilst away? o Do you have an institutional mobile phone or credit card? o Can you refuse to travel to a dangerous country? o What happens to medical insurance if you travel with a pre-existing medical condition? 2

3 The Questionnaire o Devised through consultation with BUILA members o Over 70 replies received from 55 institutions 3

4 Questions - 5 categories o Flight and Travel Arrangements o Hours worked and pay o Risk Assessment and Insurance / Medical Arrangements o Entitlement to Incidental Expenses o Traveller Advice and Emergency Support 4

5 Flight and Travel Arrangements o Individuals are given a large choice over timing of flights, airlines and which UK airports to fly from o Many more restrictions over choice of travel agent used to book flights 5

6 Figure Yes No Var ies No policy Ar e you r equi r ed to use a specified/institutionappoi nted tr avel agent? If No/ var i es i s a quote f r om a speci f i ed/ i nsti tuti onappoi nted tr avel agent r equi r ed? Ar e you r equi r ed to ask f or al ter nati ve r outes and sel ect the cheapest? Can i ndi vi dual s sel ect whi ch ai r l i ne they f l y wi th? Can i ndi vi dual s sel ect whi ch Can i ndi vi dual s sel ect the UK ai r por t they depar t f r om? ti mi ng of thei r f l i ght e.g. day or ni ght f l i ght? 6

7 Business Class Travel? o 24 individuals out of 60 who answered stated NO ONE could travel Business Class o The most important criteria for those that can are:- o Grade of staff (88%) o Length of flight (63%) o Budget (46%) 7

8 Premium Economy? o 25 individuals out of 60 who answered stated NO ONE could travel Premium Economy o The most important criteria for those that can travel Prem. Econ. however are different:- o Length of flight (48%) o Budget (48%) o Grade of staff (28%) 8

9 Hours worked and pay o One third are not expected to build a recovery day on arrival at a destination o 7% are expected to build in a recovery day on arrival plus a further 6% if they travel economy o 30% are not expected to take a recovery day on their return home. o Whilst a quarter are expected to take a recovery day on their return home 9

10 TOIL o 40% claim that they are not entitled to TOIL o 12 people stated they are entitled to one day per weekend worked o 14 people one day per weekend day o 8 people one day per Bank holiday 10

11 TOIL No 2 One day per tr ip 3 One day per weekend 4 One day per weekend day 5 One day per Bank hol 6 Extr a hr s 7 No Policy 0 11

12 Risk Assessment and Insurance o Many staff do not ask about insurance cover o Institution policies may have large Excesses for which an individual may personally be liable (or their International Office Budget) o 43 individuals did not know what to do if a traveller had a pre-existing medical condition 12

13 Can you refuse to visit a country? no reply = Don't know 1 Yes f or any reasons 2 Yes = FCO advice 3 Yes = war threat 4 Yes = Serious illness 5 Yes = Insurance Co 0 6 Yes = ot her 7 No must go 8 Sit uat ion not arisen 13

14 Incidental Expenses o How do you pay for expenses when abroad? o What can you claim for? o Are you out of pocket? o Do you have an institutional mobile phone? 14

15 Paying for Expenses = no r eply 1 per sonal cr edit car d 2 Individual pr ovided tr aveller s cheques 3 Institution cr edit car d 4 Institution pr ovided tr aveller s cheques 5 Cash 15

16 What Can you Claim for? Laundry whilst away Laundry on return Exchange Commission Pay f or view TV XS Baggage Alcohol Mini Bar Passport Visa Phot os A new Passport Tips 16

17 Phone Calls o Almost half of the 63 who answered stated they had no institution mobile phone o 6 had no restrictions on using an institution mobile o 20% entitled to one call per week o 20% entitled to one call after each flight o Almost half could make a call of any reasonable length o 10% stated calls should last less than 5 minutes 17

18 Emergency Support o Less than one quarter keep a copy of their passport for emergency o Only 11 people have details of telephone numbers for emergency calls (999 in UK) o Almost two thirds have details of a person to contact in an emergency 18

19 Concluding Remarks o Several Offices have changed their work conditions to take account of several issues raised o It is hoped this work will form benchmarks against which good practice can be measured 19