Work/life Balance

We recognise that you have a life outside work so to help you achieve a work/life balance and increase the diversity of applicants for employment with the Council we have a variety of flexible working arrangements including

• Flexitime (69 Kb)
• Flexible working (186 Kb)
• Home-working (176 Kb)
• Job Sharing (186 Kb)

The above arrangements are available to all employees, subject to operational requirements, and are not just for those with caring responsibilities.

Maternity Support Leave / Paternity Leave

There is a statutory right to two weeks paternity leave paid at the same rate of pay as Statutory Maternity Pay; however the council allows the first week to be paid at full pay under Maternity Support Arrangements. Eligible employees are also entitled to additional paternity leave and may elect to take up to 26 weeks additional paternity leave within the first year of the child's life provided that the mother has returned to work.
 

Special Leave
 

Special leave may be granted by a senior manager to cover unforeseen circumstances such as bereavement, special caring responsibilities, etc. Details of the provisions within the scheme can be provided on request.
 

Maternity
 

All employees are entitled to 52 weeks’ maternity leave. Depending on an employee’s length of service and whether they intend to return to work they could be entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay for 6 weeks at 90% of their pay, 12 weeks at half a weeks pay followed by 21 weeks at £128.73 per week (with effect from 6 April 2011). If you decide to take your full entitlement to maternity pay then weeks 39-52 are unpaid.
 

Parental Leave
 

Unpaid leave for parents is allowed, up to a maximum of 13 weeks before the child’s 5th birthday.
 

Adoption Leave
 

Adoption Leave is granted to enable an employee to adopt a child and help settle the child into the family.
 

Dependants Leave
 

Dependants Leave is the right to reasonable unpaid time off to take action in certain unexpected emergencies, for example, to make arrangements for the provision of care when a dependant falls ill or is injured.