The department is committed to providing remuneration and employment conditions that attract, develop and retain the best employees and ensure workplace safety. DTEI is flexible in its employment of people offering full-time,/part-time/casual/ongoing/temporary or contract positions. This is supported by a range of human resources policies and work arrangements, which include:

Annual leave and long service leave

Annual leave accrues at the rate of 20 working days per year and pro-rata for part-time employees.

Employees are eligible to take long service leave after 10 years service with the South Australian Public Sector.

Some service with other levels of government may also be recognised.

Sick leave

Sick leave accrues at the rate of 12 days per year and pro-rata for part-time employees and is cumulative. Sick leave is not payable on termination from the South Australian Public Sector.

Other leave

Other leave entitlements include carer's leave and benefits such as special leave.

Salary sacrifice (packaging)

Salary packaging arrangements are also available.  Employees may choose to take their remuneration by using a combination of cash salary and non-cash benefits.  This packaging provides an opportunity for tax savings and it may reduce taxable income.

Employees are required to pay Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) on some salary sacrificing packages such as mortgage payments. Other packages such as payments into the South Australian Public Sector Superannuation Schemes are exempt.

Flexible working arrangements

The department supports flexible working arrangements that allow employees of all levels to achieve a greater balance between their work and other responsibilities and interests.  Voluntary flexible working arrangements are recognised as an important aspect of an employee's conditions, and various family friendly arrangements are in place within the department.

Available options are:

• teleworking (working from home) and flexitime/accrued hours arrangements - employees can negotiate how and when hours will be worked within agreed limits and conditions
• part time and job share - working part time allows employees to work fewer hours than a full time employee with the hours generally fixed, and job sharing is where one full time job is shared between one or more employee with each employee working part time on a regular ongoing basis
• purchased leave allows employees to exchange an agreed reduction in salary for extra periods of leave, up to a maximum of four weeks extra leave each 12 months.  Employees also have the option of taking the fifth year off, with pay, after working for four years. Employees may like to take advantage of this option to travel, complete studies and spend more time with their family before returning to DTEI.

Code of conduct

The Code of Conduct for South Australian Public Sector Employees requires all government employees to behave with integrity, respect and accountability.

Occupational health safety and welfare

The department's activities are aligned with the Premier's Zero Harm Vision for the South Australian Public Sector: where every injury is preventable and the vision is for a safe workplace.  This complements the socially inclusive concept of a safe community, where it is safe to live, learn, work and play.