Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Human Resources

Purpose of report

To seek approval from the Personnel Committee on proposed changes to existing HR policies.

Recommendations

The Personnel Committee resolves:

1.1       To review and approve the following policies for implementation:

a.    Parental Leave Policy

b.    Paternity Leave Policy

c.    Probation Policy

d.    Compassionate Leave Policy

e.    Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Policy

f.     Court Attendance Policy

g.    Honorarium Policy

h.    Health and Safety Policy

Resolved    

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the following policies be approved for implementation:

a. Parental Leave Policy

b. Paternity Leave Policy

c. Probation Policy

d. Compassionate Leave Policy

e. Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Policy

f. Court Attendance Policy

g. Honorarium Policy

h. Health and Safety Policy

The Assistant Director Human Resources submitted a report to seek approval from the Personnel Committee on proposed changes to eight HR policies: Parental Leave Policy; Paternity Leave Policy; Probation Policy; Compassionate Leave Policy; Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Policy; Court Attendance Policy; Honorarium Policy; Health and Safety Policy.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, explained that the Policies were part of a rolling programme of updates that aimed to review policies on a 3-year cycle to ensure that they remained compliant and reflected current practices.

In response to a question regarding whether there were any operational challenges to implementing and maintaining HR policies within the organisation, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that work was ongoing  to ensure that policies were up to date with government legislation and could be easily comprehended and utilised. They were important in providing guidance to staff, and where there were issues there was flexibility to amend as needed.

In response to a question regarding the inclusion of more gender neutral and inclusive terms within the Parental and Paternity Leave policies the Assistant Director Human Resources confirmed that the HR team would review, and amend where considered appropriate, the current terminology, .

Resolved    

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the following policies be approved for implementation:

·         Parental Leave Policy

·         Paternity Leave Policy

·         Probation Policy

·         Compassionate Leave Policy

·         Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Policy

·         Court Attendance Policy

·         Honorarium Policy

·         Health and Safety Policy