IDS HR Study 821, May 2006

Time off and special leave

• Examines a range of circumstances in which employers are obliged to or are prepared to offer employees time off or special leave
• Covers public duties, court service, military training and call-out, trade union duties and activities, personal and domestic leave, educational and sporting activities, and career breaks and sabbaticals
• Includes policy and practice from 20 named organisations

Employers are legally obliged to grant special leave to employees in many different circumstances. However, many choose to go beyond these statutory requirements and allow their staff to take time off for a variety of purposes, from a day or two of study leave to a career break lasting a year or more. Giving employees this kind of freedom can help to improve their work-life balance, support their personal development and act as a useful retention tool. Adopting a more pragmatic approach to granting staff time off when needed can also help to reduce unauthorised absence.

For ease of reference, the publication is divided into the following seven sections:

• public duties
• court service
• military training and call-out
• trade union duties and activities
• personal and domestic leave
• educational and sporting activities
• sabbaticals and career breaks.

The Study sets out the policies and practices in 20 diverse organisations from the public and private sectors, including details of the length and type of leave provided, whether this is paid or not, and the specific circumstances under which it is granted.