North Ayrshire Council cares deeply about the wellbeing of our employees and works to ensure that its policies and procedures are compassionate and supportive to support its workforce with the many matters that can affect employees in their own personal lives and in the workplace.
The Council aim to offer a wide range of family friendly, inclusive policies that exceed its statutory requirements so that employees can effectively balance their home and working lives.
Recent developments include the Council becoming a Fostering Friendly employer – find out more about this in the Latest News article.
And the latest development is a change in our Maternity Scheme to support families affected by premature birth.
As such, North Ayrshire Council has been awarded by charity ‘The Smallest Things’ with the nationally recognised ‘Employer with a Heart’ charter mark.
The change in the Council’s Maternity Scheme has been made to support employees affected by premature birth.
Parents – employed by North Ayrshire Council – of babies born at or before 37 weeks will be entitled to receive an extra week’s Premature Baby Leave and Premature Baby Pay for every week until their babies original due date.
Fiona Walker, Head of Service for People and ICT, shares: “I am delighted that the Council has received the ‘Employer with a Heart’ Charter status.
“It is vital as one of North Ayrshire’s largest employers that we help employees and local families who may be dealing with the premature birth of their baby.
“It can be a difficult and worrying time for parents involved and the extended parental leave will help to provide the space emotionally and the support financially during this time. This will hopefully lead to a better postnatal journey.
“The change in policy will mean that parents of babies born at or before 37 weeks will be entitled to receive an extra week’s Premature Baby Leave and Premature Baby Pay for every week until their babies original due date.”
How it works…
The leave entitlement will be added to the end of the employee’s agreed Maternity leave period after the Maternity Leave entitlement has elapsed. Once the employee has ended their maternity leave, they will then move to the premature baby leave/pay. This leave will paid at full pay.
Paternity Leave will also be extended at full pay for qualifying partners.
Employees are advised to notify their Line Manager and the HROperationsTeam@north-ayrshire.gov.uk to advise of the premature birth at the earliest convenience so that necessary arrangements can be made for the Premature Baby Pay and leave to be implemented.
It is important to note that the employee’s normal maternity pay entitlement will continue to apply and will remain unaffected by this scheme.
Excerpt from The Smallest Things Charity:
Born too soon, babies can spend weeks and months in hospital before their parents can bring them home.
Dads and partners juggle work and family commitments as paternity leave fails to cover the time they needed while their baby remains in neonatal intensive care; and mums recovering from the trauma of premature birth wait beside incubators hoping for the precious moment they can hold their child.
“It is vital as one of North Ayrshire’s largest employers that we help employees and local families who may be dealing with the premature birth of their baby.“It can be a difficult and worrying time for parents involved and the extended parental leave will help to provide the space emotionally and the support financially during this time.
“The change in policy will mean that parents of babies born at or before 37 weeks will be entitled to receive an extra week’s Premature Baby Leave and Premature Baby Pay for every week until their babies original due date.”
Fiona Walker, Head of Service People and ICT