Friday 04 July 2008

Family Friendly Policies

Wandle understands that employees need to balance work with family commitments and the demands of personal interests and responsibilities.  To help staff balance commitments effectively we offer the following:

• Flexible Working:  in addition to our current flexi-time system, we have a flexible working for parents policy, part-time working policy, alternative working patterns procedure and job sharing policy. We are currently trialling a flexible working strategy.  The flexible working trial is looking at compressed hours, occasional homeworking and mobile working (allowing staff to work less from the office).

• Dependency Leave:  we recognise there will be occasions when staff need to provide emergency care for dependents, whether  they are children, a partner, or an elderly for frail relative.  Staff may request paid dependency leave  and in exceptional circumstances, a Director may grant  additional discretionary leave.

• Parental Leave:  a total of 13 weeks unpaid parental leave may be taken over a period of 5 years from the birth of each child. For disabled children the entitlement is 18 weeks and applies to children under 18.

• Maternity Leave:  we offer enhanced maternity pay and up to 52 weeks leave  to staff, depending on length of service, inclusive of ordinary and additional leave.  We are also committed to supporting women who wish to return to work after maternity leave through part-time working or job share.

• Paternity Leave:  we offer two weeks paid paternity leave and fathers can follow this with 4 weeks unpaid parental  leave (under the Parental Leave Policy).  Similar rights exist for those adopting a child and should be discussed with Human Resources.

• Study Leave:  staff are eligible to apply for study leave under the Further Education procedure. All staff taking examinations considered relevant to their post will be permitted paid time off to take the examination.

• Sabbatical Leave:  staff with over 1 year's service are eligible to apply for up to 4 weeks unpaid leave in any year with a minimum period of one week.  Staff with over 5 years service may apply for up to 12 weeks unpaid leave in a 3 year period.

• Bereavement Leave: death of  a relative or any other dependent where the employee has responsibility for funeral arrangements - up to 5 days leave to make arrangements or fulfil necessary obligations. Funeral of a close relative or dependent - one day with pay, unless the location of the funeral is such that a further half day or day is required for travelling purposes.