What is a secondment?
A secondment involves working for an external organisation while nominally employed by QUT, and maintaining such benefits as accrue from this employment (long service leave, recreation leave, etc).
In some cases QUT will pay your salary while on secondment, while in others it will be paid by the external organisation.
- Distinction from other forms of outside employment
- Application process
- Meeting host selection criteria
- Secondment agreement
Distinction from other forms of outside employment
Secondments must be distinguished from other forms of outside employment, such as contract research and consultancy, as these are normally commercial in nature, with the host organisation paying a consulting fee or fully reimbursing QUT for your salary and on-costs.
In secondments, however, the focus is on the developmental rather than financial benefits - although in most cases the external organisation will be making some financial commitment.
- If you are applying for a secondment you should proceed as described in the PDL policy (MOPP B / 12.7).
- If you will be undertaking consultancy or contract research you should proceed as described in the outside work policy (MOPP D / 7).
Each case needs to be considered on its own merits to decide which policy is applicable.
You should consult your Head of School or equivalent before proceeding with arrangements under either policy.
Application process
You should initially discuss your interest in undertaking a secondment with your Head of School or equivalent during the planning cycle of PPR-AS.
Application procedures then progress as described in the PDL policy:
- Submit your application to the PDL committee for assessment against the criteria.
- Include any letters of support received with your application and detail the current state of negotiations with the external organisation.
- The PDL Committee will recommend either rejection or in principle support for the program, pending finalisation of negotiations between QUT and the external organisation.
Meeting host selection criteria
Since an applicant for secondment has to be acceptable to the host organisation, you may have to meet certain selection criteria or processes imposed by that organisation.
Where possible, such processes should be entered into after you have been granted in principle approval by the PDL committee at QUT.
Finally, a secondment agreement will need to be drawn up and agreed to.
Secondment agreement
External secondments and attachments involve additional procedural details over and above those contained in the PDL policy.
Prior to final approval for the secondment being granted, an agreement between QUT and the host organisation needs to be drawn up and signed by both organisations and the secondee.
The Human Resources Director or nominee will sign for QUT.
This agreement should cover the following:
- Job description during the secondment,
- Time period for the secondment,
- Remuneration to be paid to the secondee,
- The organisation responsible for salary and on-costs,
- Details of removal and travel expenses and who is to pay for these costs,
- Indemnities and liabilities,
- Provisions for the agreement to be terminated,
- Ownership of Intellectual Property,
- Responsibility of the host organisation to notify the parent organisation of any leave taken during the secondment,
- Any confidentiality provisions,
- An undertaking by the host organisation not to approach the seconded employee with an employment offer within six months of the conclusion of the secondment.
Any further enquires regarding these procedures should be directed to the Faculty Human Resources Adviser.
Secondments and exchanges are usually only considered for PDL-Long, not PDL-Short.
For both secondments and exchanges, you, as the staff member being seconded / exchanged are responsible for initiating and maintaining links with the host organisation.