| The initiative was launched a year ago as part of a so-called family friendly policy, with parents of under 14s given a week’s paid leave, on top of normal leave. The average NHS leave in Tayside is 31 days plus four public holidays, but the latest moves by NHS Tayside has brought accusations of discrimination by staff who do not have children or whose families are too old to qualify for the extra leave.
However, it emerged today that whatever leave is sought by employees with children, it will be a one-off, and once leave has been taken, staff will not be entitled to the same privilege next year, regardless of whether their children are still under 14.
The week-long initiative was extended earlier this summer to two weeks after meetings with unions and staff representatives. But almost immediately there was a backlash from some staff disgruntled at what they saw as discrimination, which, said one, affected the staff moral of those who did not qualify. There was also a question of the costs of the scheme.
A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said there had been a misconception that the programme would be available to staff parents every year, and she emphasised that once leave had been taken in one year, it would not be available again.
“Staff who qualify can decide to take their extra leave this year, or take only a week this year with the remainder next year or the year after that.”
If a man and woman, partners or spouses, both worked in the NHS in Tayside, both would be entitled to take paid leave amounting to a total of four weeks.
Human resources director Alan Boyter said the NHS was obliged by law to introduce parental leave for all employees who met the definition contained in the Employment Relations Act 1999. He added that work and parenthood could create conflicting pressures and parental leave helped flexible working.
“NHS Tayside has a raft of family-friendly policies, including carer leave, which recognises other staff may have to care for a relative or dependent.”
There will be a review of the scheme in three months’ time, after which there is a possibility of increasing the entitlement beyond two weeks.
SNP health spokesperson and Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said she was sympathetic to the principle in terms of helping those with children, but she added NHS Tayside had to ensure the cash did not come out of frontline services or patient care.
“I understand how those without children may feel. There is not an awful lot in it for them, but it is like a lot of initiatives where some benefit and others do not.” |
