By Eric Nicolson

NHS TAYSIDE have been accused of discrimination by rewarding staff with children two extra weeks’ paid holiday.

A year ago, in an effort to encourage staff to spend quality time with their children, employees with a child under 14 were entitled to claim an extra week of paid leave.

It was intended to be a one-off allowance, part of a big programme of family-friendly policies.

Far from being a one-off, however, the initiative has now been reviewed and extended to two weeks’ entitlement.

A member of staff at Perth Royal Infirmary, who did not want to be named, yesterday claimed the divisive two-tier policy is creating animosity.

She said, “It’s basically discrimination.

“It isn’t just me who is annoyed by this.

“There are a lot of people who don’t qualify for the extra two weeks who are very unhappy about it.

“Apart from staff morale, there’s also the financial aspect.

“We are always being told that there is no money in the NHS and they squander it in this way.”

NHS Tayside human resources director Alan Boyter said last night, “In common with all employers, we are obliged, by law, to introduce parental leave for all employees who meet the definition contained in the Employment Relations Act 1999.

“We have now agreed with our staff side representatives that all staff directly employed by NHS Tayside who have one year’s continuous service will be eligible to apply for two weeks’ paid parental leave.

“Work and parenthood can create conflicting pressures and parental leave helps flexible working.

“NHS Tayside has a raft of family-friendly policies, including carer leave, which recognises that other members of staff may have to care for a relative or dependent.

“Carer leave aims to ensure that a compassionate response to a sudden or immediate need to provide care is possible through additional paid leave.

“It is open to all employees directly employed by NHS Tayside.”

An Email was sent to all staff on Wednesday (line managers were asked to pass it on to staff without access to Email) by human resources associate director John Cowie, informing them of the decision.

It explained, “The area partnership forum agreed, following a review of costs, that the entitlement to parental leave for eligible staff should be increased from one week paid leave to two weeks’ paid leave.

“This decision, which is effective from August 1, means that existing eligible staff who have taken one week paid parental leave will be entitled to apply for one further week paid leave.

“Eligible staff who have not taken any paid parental leave will be entitled to apply for two weeks’ parental leave.”

There will be a review in three months.

Mr Cowie said, “The purpose of the review is to assess whether, in the light of take-up rates of the new provision, there is a possibility of increasing the entitlement further beyond two weeks.”