MECA CLAUSE

21. Work-related Expenses

21.1  Reimbursement of Expenses

The employer shall meet the cost of or reimburse employees for work-related expenses, including those listed in Clause 21.2 in accordance with the provisions of Clause 21.3.

21.2  Work-Related Expenses

(a)  the annual practising certificate, including disciplinary levies;

(b)  other necessary licences e.g. radiation licence;

(c)  Medical Protection Society membership or an agreed alternative;

(d)  vocational registration fees relevant to duties and responsibilities with the employer;

(e)  college membership fees, where membership of the particular college(s) is necessary for the employee’s employment;

(f)  membership of other approved professional associations relevant to the employee’s duties and responsibilities;

(g)  fees for accredited maintenance of professional standards (MOPS) or similar programmes;

(h)  tuition and other course fees to obtain a vocational scope of practice or other clinical training, approved by the employer. In these situations the employer shall also approve paid leave for the employee to undertake such training;

(i)  part-time employees with a vocational scope of practice whose work within that scope is undertaken for only one employer shall be reimbursed the professional fees associated with that scope by that employer, notwithstanding that they may be employed or derive income from a medical or dental practice elsewhere in another vocational scope of practice.

(j)  vaccinations.

21.3  Employees shall be reimbursed on the following basis:

(a)  Full-timers who work for only one employer party shall be reimbursed the full cost by that employer;

(b)  Employees who work for more than one employer party and whose combined job size with those employers is full-time (as defined under this Agreement) shall be reimbursed the full cost, with each employer sharing that cost in the same proportion that their employee’s job size bears to the employee’s total job size with all employers;

(c)  Part-timers who are employed by only one employer party and have no other medical or dental practice shall be reimbursed the full cost;

(d)  Employees who work for more than one employer party and whose combined job size with those employers is less than full-time (as defined under this Agreement) and who have no other medical or dental practice shall be reimbursed the full cost, with each employer sharing the cost in the same proportion that their employee’s job size bears to the employee’s total job size with all employers;

(e)  Other part-time employees shall be reimbursed pro rata, according to their job size.

Note:     Reimbursement will be at no greater than 100% of the invoiced expense.

21.4  The employer shall meet or reimburse in full the actual and reasonable costs that may be incurred by an employee who is required by their employer to travel out-of-town for meetings, other business or clinical duties.

21.5  Telephone Calls and Rental

Employees who are required to be on call shall be reimbursed the full cost of a standard home telephone rental.  Payment shall be by a regular fortnightly allowance.  Employees shall also be reimbursed for all work-related toll calls.  The employer and employees may agree on other arrangements in lieu of this provision.

21.6  Car Parking

(a) Existing car parking provisions in the previously applicable collective agreements shall continue to apply for current and new employees employed by the employer at workplaces within the applicable former district health board boundaries. These arrangements/provisions are contained in Schedule 2.

(b) Where an employee is required to work or is called in to the service during the hours of darkness suitable safe vehicle parking will be arranged and/or arrangements will be in place to ensure that employees are not put at risk leaving or returning to their cars.

21.7  Use of Personal Motor Vehicle

Where an employer vehicle is unavailable or its use impractical, employees shall be reimbursed the actual and reasonable costs of using their personal motor vehicle, at not less than the rates allowed by the Inland Revenue Department, in the course of their employment, including when they are required:

(a)  to travel to and from work outside their normal hours of duty;

(b)  to travel between workplaces;

(c)  to undertake any other approved travel.