GSP 14-20 Annual Leave and Term Time 2020
28/April/2020
Description
Arising from the COVID-19 pandemic the impact of which we will have to deal with for some considerable time, it was necessary the Union and the Company review the application of the normal leave arrangements. Revised arrangements have been agreed and will apply as follows.
Annual Leave
To date the Company has permitted the deferral of all annual leave but have advised they cannot continue to do so as it is a necessity to put in place arrangements to manage annual leave for the 2020 / 2021 period. The summer leave period commences on the 4th May 2020 and the Company expects all staff members to take their scheduled summer leave during this time i.e. this is the 2 weeks normal summer leave (1 week in respect of work sharers working week on / week off).
Given the extraordinary times, the Company is agreeable to flexibility in relation to any issues or requests to changes to annual leave subject to the agreement of local management. Additionally, if staff members wish to take more than the 2 weeks this will also be considered subject to local agreement.
It is also agreed to extend the period for carry-over of 2019 leave, which ordinarily must be taken within 6 months of the end of the leave year. Given the circumstances this has been extended to 18 months.
Annual leave for employees whose leave year is 1st January to 31st December
All staff must take at least seven days’ annual leave by the end of June 2020 (this includes the two Company shut down days at Easter). For any employee who took annual leave earlier in the year there is no requirement to take any further leave once they have met the 7-day criteria.
Leave carried over from 2019: Normally this leave must be taken within six months of the start of the new leave year, i.e. before 30th June 2020. It has been agreed exceptionally that any such leave may be taken up to the 30th June 2021.
Annual leave for those whose leave year is 1st May to 30th April.
Deferral of leave currently booked from 1st May onwards will no longer be allowed. All leave that is booked must be taken as normal for all staff subject to the above arrangements.
Leave carried over from the 2019 / 2020 leave year: It has been agreed, exceptionally, that any leave carried over from the leave year ending on 30th April 2020 may be taken up to the 30th November 2021.
Term Time
In accordance with the agreement, term time arrangements are finalised in December each year with any deductions from pay scheduled to commence in January. The agreement does not provide for either the cancellation or alteration of term time once the deductions have commenced.
However, given the current circumstances, we have secured agreement whereby the Company will allow term time applications to be withdrawn or amended (only within the period during which term time is scheduled i.e. June to August). Change to term time dates will be subject to availability but the Company has confirmed it will make every effort to facilitate any requests.
Should any member wish to alter their term time arrangement they should contact their line manager, setting out their preferred approach, as quickly as possible but no later than Friday 8th May. The Union will discuss separately with the Company the arrangements for the refund of deductions for term time where members decide to cancel it.
Flexi Time
Flexitime has been suspended for staff who are working remotely.