Agenda item - Premature Baby Leave

Report of the Executive Director Finance & Resources (copy attached)

RESOLVED:

(i)            That Brighton & Hove City Council adopts the premature births leave policy, i.e. that an employee is given an additional days leave for every day that a premature baby is born prior to its due date.

(ii)          That the council also adopts the ACAS guidance, with regard to supporting employees to attend medical appointments upon their return to work after having a premature baby.

(iii)         That on adoption of this policy the council should seek to be accredited to the Employer with a heart Chartermark awarded by The Smallest Things campaign.

(iv)         That schools be allowed to adopt this policy locally as they see fit, with a view to recommending schools adopt this policy within a reasonable timeframe.

12.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Finance & Resources which set out the proposals for introducing a policy offering extended maternity and paternity leave to all staff who become parents of premature babies.

12.2    Councillor Childs supported the initiative and said the policy would support families during a stressful time, and the impact on the budget would be very small.

12.3    Councillor Wares noted that schools would be able to support the policy and asked if that were likely. The Head of HR said that they were being encouraged and it was hoped that they would adopt it, but it was their decision and officers didn’t want to pressurise them to do it.

12.4    RESOLVED:

(i)            That Brighton & Hove City Council adopts the premature births leave policy, i.e. that an employee is given an additional days leave for every day that a premature baby is born prior to its due date.

(ii)          That the council also adopts the ACAS guidance, with regard to supporting employees to attend medical appointments upon their return to work after having a premature baby.

(iii)         That on adoption of this policy the council should seek to be accredited to the Employer with a heart Chartermark awarded by The Smallest Things campaign.

(iv)         That schools be allowed to adopt this policy locally as they see fit, with a view to recommending schools adopt this policy within a reasonable timeframe.