Leave of absence

It is agreed that paid leave of absence shall be granted for the following specific reasons, subject to the limits specified:

1. trade union duties and activities
   Time off for Trade Union duties and activities will be in accordance with the PSC Facilities Agreement.
   
   
2. to undertake public duties as a member of a local authority or as a magistrate or as a member of a statutory tribunal, commission or committee - up to 36 days a year. Thereafter any additional paid leave of absence will be at the discretion of the employing authority based on operational
   
   Note: Where an attendance allowance is payable it should be claimed and, on his return to work, the employee shall pay such allowance in full to his supervisor who shall transmit the same to the appropriate pay department. However, when the employee is required to perform the public duty on a rest day or during his holidays, he shall be permitted to retain the allowance paid to him.
   
   
3. to make arrangements for and attend the funeral of a member of his immediate family – up to a maximum of 3 days
   
   
4. to attend the funeral of a relative - such period, not exceeding one half-day, as is appropriate
   
   
5. Time off for Off Island Medical Appointments should be treated as paid special leave and should not be recorded as sick leave, unless the individual is already on sick leave, in which case the sick leave provisions will continue to apply. a Periods of special leave with pay may be granted up to a maximum of 10 days in any period of 12 months.
   
   
6. Territorial and Auxiliary Forces
   1. Volunteer members of the Non-Regular Forces who attend Summer Camp shall be granted the two weeks required for Summer Camp as leave with pay additional to their normal annual leave entitlement where this is 5 weeks or less
   2. Subject to the note below leave with pay shall also be granted to members of the Non-Regular Forces who are required to undertake training additional to attendance at Summer Camps and who are unable to arrange for such training to be on days when they would normally not be working
      
      NOTE: Under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 (an Act of Parliament) as it has effect in the Isle of Man, Volunteers may be required to undertake training up to 16 days per annum (usually on Saturdays and Sundays). Territorial Army Units should be in a position to offer alternative dates and the onus is therefore on the employee to try to arrange for training to be undertaken in off-duty time. If this is not possible the employee should furnish alternative dates to his employing authority so that mutually acceptable dates for his absence may be found.

1. A member of staff who is selected to compete in the Olympic, Commonwealth or Island Games, should be granted 5 days' special leave of absence, with pay, to enable them to do so.
   
   
2. A member of staff who is both coach and carer to athlete(s) who are selected to compete in the Paralympics, Special Olympics Winter and Summer will be granted up to 5 days paid special leave.
   
   For clarity, this is in instances where the athlete would be unable to participate without the attendance of their coach, as the coach undertakes the role of carer in addition to that of coach.
   
   These provisions are not extended to coaches of athletes who do not require such arrangements. These coaches are required to use annual, flexi or unpaid special leave if they wish to attend sporting events.
   
   
3. Special leave of absence should not be made available in respect of other national or international sporting events, it being left to the member of staff concerned to make provision out of their annual leave allowance.
   
   
4. An application for special leave of absence, whether paid or unpaid, should be submitted to the manager/supervisor as far in advance as possible of the date of the first day of leave requested and the reason for the leave should be clearly stated. Special leave of absence should not be regarded as an entitlement but managers/supervisors should treat each application on its merits.
   
   
5. Managers/ supervisors should ensure that records are kept of all special leave of absence taken, whether paid or unpaid, and that respective Pay and Pensions sections are notified of all periods of special leave of absence taken.

Application forms

An Application for special leave of absence should be made using the Special Leave form (OHR 6). Local Authorities may have their own Special Leave forms.

An Application for Facility time should be made on the Facility Time form (OHR 8).

Long Service Award Scheme

A Long Service Award Scheme which provides for recognition of service by employees by way of additional leave or pay has been introduced from 1 April 2001. The details of the scheme including the application form are set out in Appendix 6(b)

_{Last Updated – October 2020 Amendment No 15-126}