shared parental leave policy pdf 138 kb

South Lakeland District Council
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
31 March 2015
Shared Parental Leave Policy
PORTFOLIO:
Councillor Sue Sanderson - Environment and People
Portfolio Holder
REPORT FROM:
Simon McVey - Assistant Director (Policy and
Performance)
REPORT AUTHOR
Andrew Reay – Human Resource Adviser
WARDS:
Not applicable
KEY DECISION NO:
Not applicable
1.0
EXPECTED OUTCOME
1.1
The Human Resources Committee are asked
2.0
RECOMMENDATION
2.1
It is recommended that the Human Resources Committee approves the
new Shared Parental Leave Policy for implementation.
3.0
BACKGROUND AND PROPOSALS
3.1
Shared Parental Leave is a new right that will enable eligible mothers, fathers,
partners and adopters to choose how to share statutory time off work after a
child is born or placed for adoption.
A policy has been drawn up, which mirrors the legislative requirements in
terms of leave and pay entitlement, eligibility and notification arrangements.
Consideration has been given to whether the Council should offer some form
of enhanced occupational shared parental pay over and above the statutory
provisions. Under national NJC provision, women on maternity leave who
meet a specific set of qualifying criteria are entitled to occupational maternity
pay (90% of full pay for the first six weeks of maternity leave, followed by 12
weeks at 50% of full pay plus statutory maternity pay).
The same
arrangements apply to employees on adoption leave. The Local Government
Association has confirmed that there are no plans currently to introduce a
national occupational scheme so individual authorities need to consider how
they choose to deal with this locally.
No male employees within the Council have taken up their entitlement to
additional paternity leave since this came into force in April 2011. It is
therefore felt that the numbers of employees wanting to take Shared Parental
Leave will be low, and it is for this reason, along with the difficulties in terms of
administering variable pay when periods of leave could be discontinuous, that
the Human Resources Committee is asked to agree that the Council only
offers the statutory rate of pay to employees who choose to take Shared
Parental leave and meet the qualifying criteria for payment.
4.0
CONSULTATION
4.1
The HR Policies and Allowances working group is made up of Union and HR
representatives. This working group review the HR policies, procedures and
guidelines and recommend amendments as appropriate. The Policy is being
considered by the Council’s Joint Consultative Panel on 19 March 2015 and
any feedback will be reported to the meeting.
5.0
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
5.1
There are no alternative options proposed for the reasons set out above.
6.0
LINKS TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES
6.1
A clear policy ensures that the council continues to work towards the Council
Plan by ensuring excellence and openness.
7.0
IMPLICATIONS
7.1
Financial and Resources
7.1.1 There is no financial cost in implementing this policy other than the statutory
payments due.
7.2
Human Resources
7.2.1 Locally agreed policies and procedures are incorporated into the Terms and
Conditions of Employment for all employees. Full consultation with the
recognised unions will take place in line with statutory requirements.
7.3
Legal
There are no legal implications other than the employment issues that are
dealt with in the body of this report and within the Human Resources section.
7.4
Social, Economic and Environmental
7.4.1 A sustainability impact assessment has not been carried out. It has no impact
on the climate change.
7.4.2 This report does not have any registered significant environmental effects.
7.5
Equality and Diversity
7.5.1. An equality and diversity impact assessment will not be carried out as the
policy follows current employment legislation. However, diversity runs through
all aspects of the Council’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures and
managing this is integral within all our Policies and Procedures, thus ensuring
compliance with legislative requirements
7.6
Risk
Risk
Consequence
Controls required
The new Shared
Parental Leave Policy is
not approved.
The Council would not
have a Shared Parental
Leave Policy and
therefore would not be
legally compliant from
5th April 2015.
The new Shared
Parental Leave Policy is
approved.
CONTACT OFFICERS
Andrea Wilson, Human Resource Services Manager, 01539 793290,
Andrea.Wilson@southlakeland.gov.uk Andrew Reay, HR Adviser, 01539 793299,
a.reay@southlakeland.gov.uk
APPENDICES ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT
Appendix No.
1
Shared Parental Leave Policy
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
None
TRACKING INFORMATION
Assistant
Director
Portfolio
Holder
Solicitor to the SMT
Council
Scrutiny
Committee
09/03/15
12/03/15
N/A
12/03/15
N/A
Executive
(Cabinet)
Committee
Council
Section 151
Officer
Monitoring
Officer
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
09/03/15
Human
Resource
Services
Manager
Leader
Ward
Councillor(s)
Unions
N/A
N/A
N/A
12/03/15