Flexible Working Framework

About the Adoption Pay and Leave Policy and Procedure

Eligible employees are entitled to take adoption leave up to 52 weeks. Salary during adoption leave will be dependent on qualifying period and set criteria. 

Adoption pay and leave policy and procedure (F2)

About the Career Breaks Policy

The council is eager to support extended breaks from work in the interest of retaining the valuable skills and knowledge of its staff in the longer term.

Career break policy (E17)

About Compressed Working Hours

Compressed working hours give employees on full-time contracts the opportunity to work their contracted hours over a shorter number of days than the standard working week. The policy allows for a ‘9-day fortnight’. Not all posts will be suitable for compressed working hours; requests should be submitted to the manager for consideration under this policy, taking account of the needs of the service.

Compressed working hours policy (E3c)

About the Flexible Retirement Policy

Eligible employees who are members of the LGPS and age 55-years-or-over are eligible to request to take flexible retirement and access their pension, by reducing their hours or a taking a lower grade. Pension payable may be subject to actuarial reduction.

Flexible retirement policy (M2)

About the Flexi-time Policy and Procedure

Flexi-time allows employees a degree of choice when they work their contracted hours. With prior agreement by their manager, staff can vary their start and finish times, within a set bandwidth of 7.30am to 6.00pm. This will be in line with the requirements of the service and may not be appropriate for all service areas.

Flexi-time policy and procedure (E14)

About the Fostering Leave Policy

Employees are able to take up to three paid days' leave in a 12-month period to attend assessment and training prior to being approved as a foster carer. Up to one further paid day will be provided to attend a fostering panel. This will be pro-rata for part-time employees.

Fostering leave policy (F6)

About the Job Share Policy and Procedure

Job sharing is a contractual arrangement, with a working pattern where two or more people share the responsibilities and benefits of one full-time position.  Not all posts will be suitable for job sharing. Any request to job share will be considered carefully by the manager in line with the needs of the service, and may also be dependent on the council being able to fill the remaining hours of the post.

Job share policy (E3a)

About the Maternity Pay and Leave Policy and Procedure

Eligible employees are entitled to take maternity leave up to 52 weeks. Salary during maternity leave will be dependent on qualifying period and set criteria.

Maternity pay and leave policy and procedure (F1)

About the Ordinary Parental Leave Policy and Procedure

Eligible employees with responsibility for the upbringing of a child are entitled to take up to 18 weeks unpaid leave for the purpose of caring for the child, dependent on qualifying service. Leave is to be taken in one-week blocks unless the child is disabled when individual days can be taken.

Ordinary parental leave policy (F4)

About Part-time Working

Part-time work is when an employee works fewer hours per week than a standard full-time contract. Requests to reduce working hours from full-time to part-time should be made under the Right to Request Flexible Working Policy and Procedure. Requests will be considered carefully, taking account of the needs of the service.

Right to request flexible working policy and proedure (E3)

About the Paternity Leave Policy and Procedure

Eligible employees are entitled to take up to two weeks paternity leave, subject to minimum 26 weeks service at the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC). For adoption, this will be 26 weeks by the end of the week of formal notification of match to a child. Leave must be taken in one-week blocks, individual days cannot be taken. This will be paid at full pay for one week and statutory pay for the second week.

Paternity leave policy and procedure (F3)

About the Reservists Guidelines

Employees who are armed forces reservists may take up to 10 days paid leave (unpaid thereafter) to fulfill reservist duties. 

Time off for public duties policy and procedure (E6)

About the Right to Request Time Off for Study or Training Procedure

Eligible employees are able to request time off to attend training, and this may be unpaid and is limited to one request in a 12-month period.

Right to request time off for training or study (P4)

About the Shared Parental Leave Policy and Procedure

Eligible employees are entitled to shared parental leave subject to qualifying service of 26 weeks at the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC)/matching date, at statutory pay, and is dependent on set criteria (ie primary mother or adopter reducing their leave). 

Shared parental leave policy and procedure (F5)

About the Special Leave Policy and Procedure

All employees are entitled to special leave, irrespective of length of service, up to one working week (pro-rata) with pay and up to three days (pro-rata) without pay, in a 12 month period, to deal with personal issues at short notice or emergency situations which they could not reasonably have been expected to plan for.

Special leave policy and procedure (E4)

About the Term-Time Working Guidelines

Term-time working is when an employee works during school term times and does not work during school holidays. The employee receives a pro-rata salary, but this is paid all year round in equal installments. Not all posts will be suitable for term time only working. Any request to change from a whole year contract to a term-time only contract should be made under the Right to Request Flexible Working Policy and Procedure. This will be considered carefully by the manager in line with the needs of the service.

Term time working guidelines (E13)

Right to request flexible working policy and procedure (E3)

About the Time Off for Public Duties Policy and Procedure

Eligible employees are able to request time off to fulfill public duties, this must be reasonable and with consideration for the needs of the service. Whether this is paid or unpaid will be dependent on the reason. Requests for time off should be made at least one month in advance using the form attached to the policy at Appendix B.

Time off for public duties policy and procedure (E6)

About Variation in Hours

A variation in hours gives employees the opportunity to request an increase or decrease to the total number of hours they work on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

This can be requested as a permanent arrangement under the Right to Request Flexible Working Policy and Procedure. A more informal temporary arrangement may also be discussed and agreed between the employee and the manager. All requests will be considered in line with the needs of the service.

Right to request flexible working policy and procedure (E3)