Workers at a Devon council who have caring responsibilities will get better terms to take time off than legislation requires. East Devon District Council’s personnel committee agreed that staff who are carers would receive five days of leave beyond their standard allowance, as required by the UK Carer’s Leave Act.
Workers at a Devon council who have caring responsibilities will get better terms to take time off than legislation requires.
East Devon District Council’s personnel committee agreed that staff who are carers would receive five days of leave beyond their standard allowance, as required by the UK Carer’s Leave Act.
But the council has pledged to pay them during this time off, even though the law says it doesn’t have to.
At present, the council offers three paid days for special care leave, which relates to when a dependant requires support because of very serious or terminal illness, or where they need significant post-operative care and can’t be left alone.
Now the five days of time off to care for someone don’t have to be for emergency situations, and can be used for planned or foreseeable caregiving for a dependant or someone who relies on the individual, such as an elderly neighbour.
The council estimated it had around 50 employees who are balancing caring and work responsibilities, but based this on UK statistics which suggest nine per cent of the country’s workforce are carers.
East Devon said its three-day allowance for special care leave could cost £19,000 per year if fully taken up, but switching to paying the five days could take this to £31,000.
Cllr Ian Barlow (Independent, Sidmouth Town) welcomed the policy as “the right thing to do”.
But he asked: “Are we confident, especially because it will be fully paid, that it won’t be in any way abused?
“I always worry about these things, as once you start something, there are always people that will take advantage of it.
“I think that will deflect from the reason it is being proposed.”
Gemma Roberts, interim human resources lead, said the legislation set out the policy the council had to follow.
“Leave can be declined if it is found not to have been used for the appropriate reasons, so hopefully once this policy is approved, we will do some sessions with managers to talk about the process and ensure they are checking that it is being used appropriately.”
The committee’s chair, Cllr John Loudon (Independent, Sidmouth Rural) said: “I hope we are an organisation where managers and staff are close enough for managers to have a feel for how staff members’ lives are going and the impacts will be easier to monitor.
“I have good faith in our staff so I’m sure we won’t be seeing anything untowards.”
The committee approved the policy.
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