Nationality Update

Update for PCS members in Nationality

Sickness absence, special leave & maternity leave

Sickness absence discretion

Members in Nationality might be aware that sickness absence cases, where the line manager wished to issue discretion (known as line managers discretion), were being ‘referred’ up the management chain for Grade 7 ‘approval’. Line managers were asked to fill-in a pro-forma and only when the Grade 7 had ‘approved’ the decision could it be implemented. This was caused many line managers to feel disempowered as, although the guidance directed that such decisions were to be taken at their level, in practice this decision was taken out of their hands. Line managers felt distrust from their Senior Leadership Team.

Local PCS reps met with the SLT nd challenged this practice which is not in line with official attendance management guidance. The SLT assured PCS that such decisions were referred up for Grade 7 for consistency purposes only. PCS re-iterated that the attendance management policy did not allow for such local practices to exist, and asked the SLT to withdraw the process with immediate effect. As a result, the local proforma was withdrawn and the process of referral to Grade 7 stopped. PCS were advised that comms would go out to all Nationality staff.

Special leave

The Special Leave Policy recently changed, allowing line managers of any grade to approve special leave of up to 5 days. This replaces the previous guidance under which only Grade 7 and above could authorise special leave. PCS reps in Nationality raised the issue that line managers were still being advised by their managers that special leave decisions could not be made by them directly. PCS have been assured by the SLT that line managers do have responsibility to make decisions on special leave and under no circumstances will be asked to refer decisions up the management chain. PCS were again assured that comms would go out to managers.

Maternity leave

Members raised a concern that upon returning from maternity leave, during week 1 of casework, targets of 50% were introduced, which had a knock-on effect upon average productivity levels for the year, and negatively impacted their PDR rating as a result. After raising this issue with the SLT PCS have been assured that all training and mentoring packages for staff returning from maternity leave will be tailored to the individual, and that a period of mentoring on casework will happen before targets are introduced. Only on week 1 of actual casework, outside of mentoring, will targets be introduced.

If members are still experiences difficulties with any of the above please contact PCS here.