The Committee considered a report presenting two Employment Policies which had been reviewed jointly and agreed with the Joint Trade Unions.  The following documents were attached to the report:

The report explained that the Domestic Violence Policy was a new policy that had been developed as part of the Council's commitment to support its workforce's health and wellbeing at work.  The Employment Break Policy was also new, and had been developed to provide the basis for a clear understanding of the Employment Break Scheme for the benefit of both the organisation and the employee who wished to have a planned and agreed break from the workplace.  The new Smoking at Work Policy conformed to the requirements of smoke-free legislation.  The Flexible Workstyles Policy had originally been drafted in 2021, but the agile working principles had now been updated to reflect the aim of the Council’s approach to Flexible Working.

The report explained that all employment policies had now been reviewed by the HR and Organisational Development team, following consultation and negotiation with the Joint Trade Unions.  A communications plan was in place to communicate the revised policies to managers and employees.

Resolved:    That the following revised HR policies, as set out in in Appendices A,B, C and D to the report, be approved:

·       Domestic Violence Policy;

·       Employment Break Policy;

·       Smoking at Work Policy;

Flexible Workstyles Framework.