Council staff to have extra day’s leave for ‘amazing work’ in pandemic

STAFF at Nottinghamshire County Council are to get an extra day’s holiday in recognition of “their significant and continued contribution to the council’s response and recovery to the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Announcing the plan, Nottinghamshire County Council leader Councillor Ben Bradley MP spoke of the “amazing work” undertaken by council staff during the pandemic.

He said: “I have heard amazing stories of staff going above and beyond the call of duty. Social workers working seven days a week and staff giving up their weekends to man testing and vaccination centres.

“I want to reiterate our thanks to all our staff and I hope the token of appreciation will give them a chance for a day of calm or to get out and do whatever they choose to do.

“It is hoped that this gesture goes some way to expressing the council’s gratitude to its workforce who have responded so well to the challenges presented.”

The one-off holiday will be classified as “recognition leave” so employees will be reminded of why they have been given this when they book the time off.

The report which went to the council added: “It is recognised that many employees had to carry forward significant amounts of leave because they were unable to take it in the previous leave year when they were responding to the pandemic.

“Therefore, employees will be given flexibility around when they can take this day off and will be able to take it up to March 31, 2024.”

The report said that there was no direct cost to the council as “annual leave is funded from within existing staffing budgets”.