Time Keeping and Time off Policy

Your normal hours of work are detailed in your Statement (contract). It is your responsibility to ensure that you attend punctually for work and follow all timekeeping and absence procedures. In order to help us to maintain optimum service levels, you may be required to work additional hours from time to time. Further details are contained in your Statement.
If you are unable to attend work for any reason or are going to be late you are required to telephone the Director as soon as reasonably practicable, stating why you are absent or late and when you expect to arrive at work.
If you have a need to leave work prior to your normal finishing time or to have time away during the normal working period, you must not leave without first obtaining permission.  In such circumstances, you must report to the Director upon returning to work.
Persistent lateness, unacceptable levels of absence and/or unauthorised absence may result in a disciplinary warning or dismissal, depending on the circumstances.
You will be paid only for time worked.

If you are required to sign-in, you must ensure that you sign-in on arrival at, and sign-out on departure from the premises, using the same clock location.
If you falsify your clock card or time sheet, complete entries without express authority, sign-in for another employee, or allow another employee to sign-in for you, you may be liable to summary dismissal.

You are normally expected to ensure that appointments to visit the doctor, dentist, hospital, etc. are made in your own time and outside normal working hours.  In the event that this is not reasonably practicable, time off work will be permitted to attend such appointments, providing that the appointment is substantiated with an appointment card, if requested, and the timing of the appointment causes as little disruption as possible, i.e. at the beginning or end of the working day.However, you will not be paid for this time off.

You are entitled to reasonable time off, without pay, for urgent or unexpected incidents of real need involving a dependant, who is a member of your immediate family, or someone who reasonably relies on you for help when they are ill or injured, or for making arrangements for them to be cared for in the event of illness or injury.The entitlement to time off in such circumstances is limited to what is reasonable for you to deal with the immediate problem and to organise any longer term arrangements.If you are unable to attend work due to unforeseen family circumstances such as the death of a dependant, breakdown of childcare arrangements, or illness of a dependant, you may be entitled to reasonable time off work.

In the event of the death or funeral of an immediate relative, civil partner or close friend, you may be granted appropriate time off work and payment at the discretion of the Company after careful and sympathetic consideration has been given to the circumstances surrounding the bereavement.  

In the event that a member of your immediate family dies, falls seriously ill, or is injured, you may be granted paid compassionate leave at the discretion of the Company, up to a maximum of 2 days.  Entitlements will be provided on a pro-rata basis for part-time employees.Furthermore, additional days of unpaid leave may be granted at the discretion of your Manager.The Company will give careful and sympathetic consideration to the circumstances surrounding each case, taking into account the needs of the employee and the Company.

We recognise that there are occasions when you may have difficulty in travelling to work due to severe weather conditions or disruptions to public transport.While the Company expects employees to make every effort to come to work, you should under no circumstances travel if it is dangerous to do so and you should have due regard for your health and safety.

Procedure
Severe weather or disruptions to public transport may make travelling to work slower or more difficult. Where you find that your journey to work is delayed you should, where possible, contact your Line Manager at the earliest opportunity.  

You are expected to make every effort to arrive for work on time.  If poor weather conditions or disruptions to public transport result in you arriving for work late, you are expected to make up the time lost.  On occasions, for example in the event of road closures due to severe weather, or the total shut down of public transport, it may be impossible for you to attend work. On such occasions you will normally be required to take annual leave in respect of that day. If you have exhausted your annual leave entitlement, the time away from work will be unpaid.

If unexpected weather conditions that will make travel difficult occur during the working day, employees will, at management discretion, be allowed to leave work early in order to travel home.

Employees who abuse the above procedure may be subject to action under the disciplinary procedure.

This policy will be applied in a spirit of common sense and reasonableness, balancing the needs of the business, its customers, and the safety of employees.

You are entitled to time off work to fulfil your obligations with regard to jury service. In the event of you being summoned to attend for jury service, you must notify management immediately on receipt of the jury summons, giving details of the dates you are required to attend court.You may be requested to apply to the court for your jury service to be either postponed or delayed if it is considered that your absence will cause substantial injury to the business. A failure or refusal to make such an application when requested may lead to action being taken under the Disciplinary Procedure, which may include dismissal.If you are retained on jury service for a prolonged period you have an obligation to notify the Company and must keep in regular contact throughout this time. You must return to normal working immediately following your release from jury duties.You are reminded to ensure that an expenses claim is submitted to the court in accordance with the available allowances for travelling, subsistence, and your financial loss.You must give the Company a Certificate of Loss of Earnings which we will complete and return to you, unless you are on a period of unpaid leave during your time on jury service.You are not entitled to payment for this time off as you can claim allowances from the court.