Employment Information

Further information on employment with Herefordshire Council

Hours of work and annual leave

25 days per annum (30 after 5 years Local Government service).

Contractual hours are 37 hours per week for full time employees.

Travel, car allowances and schemes

Mileage allowances are paid for using your car for Council business. For some posts car loans are available, and the Council operates a car lease scheme.

Employment policies

A range of Personnel policies are in place to support employees, to make clear what they can expect from the Council, and the standards the Council expects of them in return. These include:

• Grievance procedures - so that work issues can be dealt with fairly and quickly. It applies to all Council employees, except those in schools who have their own agreed procedure.

• Complaints of harassment and bullying - Herefordshire Council has given an undertaking through the Human Resources Strategy that it takes a "zero tolerance" approach to harassment and bullying within the workplace. All complaints will be taken seriously and investigated swiftly and all employees will be treated with respect.

• Health and safety policies - to support health and safety in the workplace. In addition there is an Occupational Health, and Counselling Service

• Training and development policies including a staff review and development scheme, so that performance and development needs are reviewed at least annually.

The public have a right to expect the highest standard of conduct from employees in local government. There are a number of key policies that set out what the Council expects, and what may happen if behaviour at work falls short of expected conduct. Policies covering these aspects include:

• Code of conduct for employees
• Disciplinary policy
• Alcohol and Drug (substance) abuse
• Sickness Absence guidance
• Equalities policies
• E-mail and intranet use - if a computer is used as part of work
• Health and Safety statements
• Performance Management policy

All employees are expected to familiarise themselves with these.

Work Life Balance

The Council aims to support employees in achieving a good balance between home and work
and has a number of initiatives in place intended to support this:

• Job Sharing policy
• Career Break scheme
• Flexible Working policy
• Flexitime Scheme
• Parental Leave scheme
• Time off for dependants
• Maternity Support Leave
• Child Care Voucher scheme
• Staff Opinion Survey - annual

Trade Unions

The Council supports the system of collective bargaining and accepts that working with employee representatives is vital to resolving issues at the earliest opportunity. It also promotes and fosters effective employee relations. Employees are encouraged to be a member of a recognised trade union. The main recognised trade unions are Unison, GMB, T&GWU. Please contact Human Resources on 01432 260232 for more information. There are also recognised trade unions for teaching staff. All policies and procedures connected with employment issues are discussed with the recognised trade unions.

No smoking

The Council has a No Smoking Policy which prevents smoking in the workplace.

Political Restrictions

Some posts are politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. See the person specification and job description for details.

Last Updated: 24 August 06,
Review Date: 20 September 2005