Council workers are selling holiday for taxpayers' cash
Council workers looking for a quick buck can sell off their spare holiday time using money from the taxpayer's pocket.
Workers at both Mole Valley District Council and Surrey County Council are able to sell off any spare holiday entitlement and spend a week at their desks topping up their office tan rather than sunning themselves on a beach.
A spokeswoman from the council told the Advertiser that the scheme is a relatively new one for the council.
She said: "Mole Valley District Council operates a flexible annual leave policy whereby staff can buy or sell up to five day's leave subject to certain conditions such as a good sickness record and operation considerations.
"The scheme has been in operation for one year. The cost to the council to date of staff selling leave, after taking into consideration those staff buying leave, is £6,645.
"However, this cost is offset by savings made in not having to cover essential services with agency staff or overtime payments."
Surrey County Council on the other hand has been running the scheme for 10 years with 10,000 council workers eligible to sell their time in this way.
A spokesman for the county council said: "We require that staff take 20 days leave as a minimum before selling any.
"We think it helps those staff who wish to be flexible about their holiday entitlement and as they can pay for extra days as well, the scheme helps with promoting a work-life balance."
5 Comments
by Doreen, Dorking
Wednesday, August 05 2009, 7:04PM
“Funny that, I thought holidays were just that, to take a HOLIDAY
I wish had anything like 20 days holiday a year
Just remind me, when¿s the next election?”
by Steve, Epsom
Sunday, August 02 2009, 7:59PM
“What's the problem with this? This is standard HR procedure in many enlightened companies these days. Pleased to see the council has a sensible employment approach. Maybe this journalist needs to look for an employer that is more up to date...”
by Grimboyd, Dorking
Saturday, August 01 2009, 9:12AM
“Actually it¿s us, the tax payer that¿s paying for this lot to stay at their desks and do some, erm .. work. Ok so they get a chance sell their ¿well earned¿ holiday, which I always thought was to rest ¿workers¿ so they¿re ¿refreshed¿. So what happens now, they take their minimum 20 days, sell the rest and go sick. Own up, which muppet at the ¿leather chaired¿ Dorking Council thought this one out? Oh, (s)he¿s on sick leave, sorry!”
by Basil, Surrey
Friday, July 31 2009, 9:15PM
“"Oh, Mary fancies a bit of quick cash and wants to sell some holiday - we can pay her for that out of Mr Smith's council tax this month instead of fixing the potholes in the road!".
Just the sort of lazy biased reporting I have come to expect from a paper with a pathological hatred of the council and all its employees (who actually number a large amount of local residents who - GASP! - pay taxes!!).”
by Sarah, Cheam
Friday, July 31 2009, 12:20PM
“This story is a little bit unfair and if research was done I think you would find that it is very rare for people to 'sell' their annual leave entitlement. Most staff purchase extra leave. Also this has to be done in advance of the annual leave year so it is not a case of thinking say in September oh I need some cash I'll sell my outstanding leave! It is certainly not a scheme that is thought of as making a 'fast buck'”