Therapist Pay Equity Claim - General Areas of Responsibility Consultation

Overview

As part of the investigation stage of the pay equity process, interviews were conducted with a sample of therapist staff (and those who do the same or similar work) and their supervisors across Aotearoa between November 2021 and April 2022. The information has been analysed and a ‘general areas of responsibility’ (GAR) document has been developed. This document depicts the range of responsibilities, activities, and tasks that, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech language therapists and music therapists employed by the Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga and School Boards currently perform.

Please note these interviews were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the role may have evolved to include related responsibilities that are relevant to this point in time.

What is happening?

We are opening this consultation with therapists covered by the claim and their people leaders to learn how closely the GAR document reflects and responds to your experiences.

It is important to point out that the document does not detail the levels of expertise, demand, and effort required. These aspects and factors will be captured during the assessment phase

Also, no individual person is expected to carry out all the activities identified but therapist staff should see their responsibilities reflected in the document. Please note that the specific examples provided in the parenthesis are illustrative but not exhaustive of the ways in which the responsibility can be fulfilled.

While interviews have been conducted with employees with the above role titles, the claim also includes those who are doing the same or substantially similar work and any therapists with other role titles that could be considered under this scope should be identified and included in the feedback.

How to give feedback

You can have your say by answering the questions that are relevant to you in this online survey. Alternatively, you can download a copy of the survey and email your scanned feedback to Ministry.Payequity@education.govt.nz

Therapist Pay Equity Claim - General Areas of Responsibility Consultation Survey

You can answer every question or just a few. Note that you can complete your online submission over several sessions and save it as you go by selecting ‘Save and come back later'.

The closing date for all submissions is 5:00 p.m., 14 October 2022.

What we do with your feedback

After the closing date for submissions, the parties will review and analyse the feedback. The information gathered will be factored in as part of the next phase of the pay equity claim process. This may include additional interviews and follow up with those who have identified gaps in the document. While we ask you to provide your contact details to enable follow up, your privacy will be protected, and any responses provided will not be shared beyond the pay equity team in a way that could identify you.

If you have any queries, please contact Ministry.Payequity@education.govt.nz and payequity@nzei.org.nz

What happens next

This consultation has now closed. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Ministry Pay Equity team at ministry.payequity@education.govt.nz.