Leave of Absence Policy

Transcription

1 O Leave of bsence Policy Ratified: May 2017

2 lderman s Green Primary School Leave of bsence Policy Status This document summarises the existing policies and practices in respect of leave of absence, including compassionate leave, (except those covered by Sickness and Maternity Leave Scheme) and applies to all staff in school. iscretion for approving leave of absence is the responsibility of the Governing ody and the Headteacher. General Principles pplications for leave of absence for reasons other than sickness or maternity may arise and be granted as a result of an employee s entitlement under legislation, under provisions agreed as part of the conditions of service, or at the discretion of the Headteacher or Governing ody. In these matters the following principles apply: a) No employee may be absent from duty without approved leave of absence. b) In general, the operational needs of the school will be of prime importance in making a decision. c) Requests to swap hours, use PP or Leadership time or accrued overtime to offset a leave of absence is not permitted. d) clear distinction should be drawn between leave of absence for compassionate purposes and leave for other purposes. ertain categories of compassionate leave provide for an automatic entitlement, others are discretionary. Leave for other purposes may be automatic in certain cases and discretionary in others. In all circumstances, there is a need for equity and fairness so that consistent decisions are taken. e) ll year round employees should have regard to future commitments and allocate annual leave where it is reasonable to do so. f) Leave of absence with pay will not be granted for more than three working days in any one academic year. Part-time staff will receive leave on a pro rata basis where a day is classed as your normal working hours for the day s leave requested. Staff shall apply for leave of absence to the Headteacher who will record it locally. ll requested leave of absence must be done in writing on the school Leave of bsence form (appendix ). g) The Headteacher shall apply for personal leave of absence for reasons other than personal illness to the hair of Governors who shall use the same process as above. h) If the absence for reasons other than personal illness is extended beyond the three working days allowed, the basic principle is that pay will cease until the employee resumes duty. This means that any weekend or holiday included with the period of leave of absence will not be paid. Where the employee resumes work on a Monday, payment will be made for the preceding weekend, providing the employee clarifies that he or she would have been available for work on the Saturday or Sunday. Where leave of absence is granted in advance for a term or school year then the period without pay will include the associated holidays. Where in exceptional circumstances leave of absence without pay is granted on an indefinite basis e.g. because of family crisis, then if the employee returns to duty after a holiday, payment will be made from the day they certify they are able

3 to return to duty. Notification must be made on the Leave of bsence form (process as above). i) If leave of absence, owing to exceptional circumstances beyond the three days is necessary, applications must be made in writing (on the Leave of bsence form) to the Headteacher, if possible before such leave is required, or in any case, no later than two days after the return of duty. j) If an employee is given leave of absence for any activity where the employee receives additional payments over and above reasonable expenses actually incurred, then it is a condition of granting leave of absence with pay that such additional payment shall be repaid to the school. Similarly, if an employee is granted leave of absence without pay to undertake activities for which he or she receives payment which is in excess of normal salary receivable, then the payment in excess of normal salary should be repaid to the school. k) Leave of absence without pay is not justified merely on the grounds that there is no cost implication Procedure Permission must be sought in writing for all leave of absence (with or without pay) from the Headteacher and obtained in advance whenever possible. In considering any requests for leave of absence, account will be taken of the legislative rights; the reasons for the request, the amount of leave requested, previous requests, precedents, general or specific school policies and the effect of the leave on the school. The school procedure for administrating leave of absence is given below: The Leave of bsence Request Form will be retained in school, together with a record of any paid/unpaid leave granted. If it is not possible to obtain a LO request form in advance, e.g. in the event of an unexpected crisis, it must be completed with the actual dates of absence immediately following the return to work. etails of the reason for the request must be given, e.g. personal is not sufficient. If the request is outside the entitlement, e.g. an employee requests leave of 4 days because of their child s illness, having had no previous absence in that category in the leave year. The entitlement is to 3 days leave with pay and if the Headteacher agrees the fourth day, it will be unpaid. There is an expectation that all medical and dental appointments for staff or their children, including well person screening, take place outside of the school day. Leave of absence will only be granted in an emergency or where no other option is available. If leave is for Jury Service, see ppendix. Staff will be notified of the school s decision on the form request.

4 PPENIX School Policy and Precedents Established This section summarises in alphabetical order school policy based on ity ouncil and Trade Union guidance. Each request has been allocated a category from to to highlight the appropriate policy or precedent set. ategory Entitlement to Paid leave of bsence not necessarily restricted to the limit of 3 days per year set by ategory. ategory Up to 3 days paid leave per annum in total irrespective of any leave granted in ategory. ategory Unpaid Leave ategory iscretionary Leave of bsence Request lphabetical List Leave of bsence Request broad To attend family crisis and visit sick relatives nte-natal are (not pregnancy tests) ppointments Medical or dental for self, or own child where presence of the parent is required and no alternative appointment can be made On appointment to a senior post in another Local uthority, leave to participate in appointments, management planning etc. pproved Examiner uties ttendance at: ourt as a Magistrate ourt or Tribunal as Witness or on Jury Service Standing dvisory ouncil for Religious Education Selection for Headteacher ppointments (members of an appropriate ouncil ommittee) The Penderels Trust ommittee pproved courses and conferences including associated examination (but not study leave) Interviews (except interviews abroad that will require specific consideration) Funeral of parent, brother, sister, partner or child ttendance at: Rent and Industrial Tribunals (not as witness) ourt (not as Magistrate, witness or jury) Well Person clinic preventative medicine, where no alternative appointment can be made Funeral not of parent, sibling, partner or child voidance of Rubella ontact (but see Maternity Leave Scheme) ward eremonies Where employee is a recipient When a partner or child is a recipient When a member of the employees family is a recipient e.g. niece, daughter-in-law etc. ereavement Of parent, sibling, partner or child and attendance at funeral Irrespective or relationship and attendance at funeral andidates at Elections Up to 3 weeks for Parliamentary/European Elections ategory

5 Leave of bsence Request ategory Up to 2 day for Local Elections lose friends of immediate family General matters unpaid ourses of personal interest ourt ttendance s magistrate, witness or on a jury Other onferences eath Of parent, sibling, partner or child and attendance at funeral Irrespective of relationship and attendance at funeral omestic risis such as fire, flood, storm damage, burst boiler etc. Not a crisis e.g. fitting appliances which cannot be arranged outside of school hours riving Test E Elective Medical Procedures Should be undertaken in own time with unpaid leave at the discretion of the Governing ody. Unexpected side effects requiring additional recovery time treated as sickness absence. Treatment for a recognised medical problem (e.g. cosmetic surgery for a disfigurement) treated as sickness absence Exams following personal interests/hobbies Examiner uties F Family matters or matters concerning close friends Without pay. This may necessitate consideration of extended leave to travel abroad to their family crisis and visit sick relatives Fertility Treatment For employees needing to take time off for fertility treatment. To cover normal recovery time e.g. when it is not possible for an employee to work after fertility procedures which involve a general anaesthetic or heavy sedation G Governor Of L school, cademy, Grant Maintained School or Higher Education Establishment Guest lecturer/speaker Elsewhere arising from employee s job (N any special payments in excess of normal salary may lead to unpaid leave) H Health uthority Member Holidays Only in extremely exceptional circumstances (e.g. where booked prior to appointment or where of direct relevance to teaching). Without pay. House Removal When purchasing/renting a property with solicitor involvement When moving home without solicitor involvement I Illness Of child/wife/husband/partner or some other dependent (maximum 3 days) Of child/wife/husband/partner or some other dependent (in excess of 3 days) Long term absence due to serious health issues of close dependent (assessed by Headteacher) Interests (Hobbies) Only in exceptional circumstances or of direct relevance to teaching J Jury Service Employees on Jury Service are allowed to claim for loss of earnings and should do so. ontact should be made with Payroll to clarify arrangements. The employer should make up any difference between loss of earnings allowable and normal pay L Justice of Peace/Magistrate Service Legal Matters e.g. adoption procedures or the administration of estates which require

6 Leave of bsence Request ategory professional advice and which is not possible to arrange outside of school hours, and similar legal and related business Local uthority Member M Matters oncerning members of immediate family or close friends. Without pay if given. This may necessitate consideration of extended leave to travel abroad to attend a family crisis and visit sick relatives. Military Service Volunteer reserves and Territorial rmy (Maximum 2 weeks paid any excess will be unpaid) P Pregnancy see maternity leave provisions R Religious Festivals S Speaker or Guest Lecturer Elsewhere arising from employee s job (N any special payments in excess of normal salary may lead to unpaid leave) Special onstable Up to 6 days per annum (pro rata for part time employees) with average earnings paid. No time off for hours outside normal working hours. In national or local emergencies, additional leave at discretion of Governing ody T Trade Union Training and uties overed under the Facilities greement Transport Unavailability of any (e.g. due to weather conditions, mechanical failure, or industrial action when employee is returning from holiday) Unable to travel to work due to extreme weather conditions Tribunal ttendance as a witness Other attendance W Welfare Visit to Occupational Health and ounselling Service. Where no alternative appointment is available or where referred by the school

7 PPENIX SHOOL LEVE OF SENE REQUEST FORM Request Name: ate(s) of absence: Times (if applicable) Reason: From: To: ategory applied under: Paid/Unpaid?,, or (See Policy) Signed: ate: ecision Reason: pproved / Not pproved Signed: Print name and Role: ate: