Benefits for council employees

We offer a range of benefits to our staff including:

Annual leave

For the majority of staff, a minimum of 25 days annual leave (including two days at Christmas) plus additional days depending on the length of service.

Agile working

This is the term used to describe how employees can work flexibly from any location. Individuals work in the environment that best suits their job role which may be from a Council building, in the community, from home or a combination of these. Some roles involve working at home for part or most of the employees contracted working hours. This gives flexibility to individuals, supports work/life balance, and emphasises quality and quantity of output rather than attendance in the office.

Flexible working hours

Employees have the right to request flexible working if they have children or other caring responsibilities. This includes working from home instead of the normal place of work. Heads of Department, in consultation with HR and IT, can agree agile or home working with any member of staff where they think the work is suitable.

Health and wellbeing

We have an Occupational Health Service which provides professional medical advice on potential and existing staff. Staff experiencing difficult periods in their life, either personally or professionally, can be detrimentally affected physically or emotionally whilst at work. We do all we can to support staff with health and wellbeing initiatives and counselling support.

Staff are offered annual subsidised flu jabs and regular osteoporosis screening.

Sick pay and special leave

Occupational sick pay at full and/or half-pay rates depending on the length of service and special leave for emergency reasons and on compassionate grounds.

Maternity and paternity benefits

Enhanced maternity and paternity benefits over and above statutory entitlements.

Parental Leave Policy (PDF) [294KB]

Pension

We provide membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

Childcare vouchers

We operate a childcare voucher scheme. Employees can have part of their salary paid in Childcare Vouchers. Vouchers can be used to pay for childcare. These benefit from not being taxable and are exempt from National Insurance contributions. They are available up to a limit of £243 a month per employee and can be used for children up to 16 years of age.

Season ticket loans

Interest-free season ticket loans for trains.

Tax-free cycles

We are signed up to a scheme for staff to get up to 40% off a bike to be used for work and leisure. Vouchers up to the value of £1,000 are available for use at any partner cycle shop when purchasing your choice of bike and safety equipment. This is a salary sacrifice agreement where staff payback over, a period of 12 months, on goods from gross, rather than net. This benefits from income tax and NI relief.

At the end of the loan period staff are given the opportunity to buy the bike at a fair market value of around 5%.