Annual Leave
The NICS offers a generous annual leave entitlement. New entrants are allocated an annual leave allowance of 25 days in addition to the 12 public and privilege holidays. This rises to 30 days after 5 years’ satisfactory service.
This is a system of working hours that provides flexibility on start and finish times and length of lunch breaks subject to business need. Staff can vary their working times to allow a balance between work and home thus enabling the NICS to operate its business effectively. Staff who work part time are also entitled to work flexible working hours and are allowed to accrue excess or deficit hours.
Departments and Agencies have discretion to grant special leave with or without pay where they consider it necessary or justified. Paid special leave is normally only available on a short term basis.
All pregnant employees, regardless of their hours of work or length of service, have the right to at least 18 weeks maternity leave. A woman will also be given (reasonable) paid time off during working hours to keep an appointment to receive ante natal care.
If a staff member’s partner gives birth (or adopts a child) they may be entitled to paternity leave and pay. If so, they will be entitled to take up to two weeks’ ordinary paternity leave. Generally, the first two days of paternity leave will be paid at full pay and further paternity leave taken will be paid at a rate equal to Statutory Maternity Pay, known as Statutory Paternity Pay.
They may also be entitled to take up to 26 weeks additional paternity leave within the first year of the child’s life provided that the mother has returned to work before using her full entitlement to maternity leave. Paternity leave and pay may also be taken if a staff member jointly adopts a child with their partner and their partner opts to take adoption leave. Additional paternity leave is also available to adoptive parents within the first year after the child’s placement for adoption, provided that the child’s primary adopter has returned to work before using his/her full entitlement to adoption leave.
Parental leave gives parents the right to take time off work to look after a child or to make arrangements for the child’s welfare. Parents can use it to spend more time with their children and strike a better balance between their work and family commitments. The reasons for special leave need not be connected with the child’s health. This leave is unpaid.