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."