A to Z Index:

Other Benefits

Staff Development

Aberdeenshire Council is committed to the on-going development of our employees and to support this we offer a wide range of training opportunities including courses, workshops, seminars, conferences and a Management Development Programme.

We also offer:

  • Professional, technical and career development schemes
  • Trainee/Apprenticeships: available throughout a variety of professions
  • Senior Practitioner posts throughout a variety of professions

Employee development and review: formal scheme for setting work objectives, support and training requirements.

Work Life Balance

Flexible working

Aberdeenshire Council respect the fact that each employee has a personal life and that best performance can be achieved by offering flexible working options. These include:

  • Part time: working less than full-time hours
  • Job share: two post holders fulfilling the duties of one post
  • Term time: the opportunity to request a working pattern which is similar to the school term
  • Flexi time: flexible start and finish times within defined limits
  • Compressed working week: where the employee works more each day but fewer days of the week
  • Shift working: evening and weekend work available on a rota basis
  • Supply/relief working: to be employed on an as and when required basis, giving the employee more choice on when to work, depending on the demands of the service
  • Teleworking/home based working: with authorisation the employ can based in their own home

Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate such requests, some elements of these may be subject to the exigencies of the service and may not be applicable to all jobs.

Leave entitlement

We offer a very generous leave package for annual leave and special leave. The following are examples of the types of leave offered:

  • Annual leave - ranging from 27 to 32 days depending on length of service excluding statutory public holiday entitlement of 7 days. Separate leave entitlements exist for staff in educational establishments
  • Special leave - compassionate leave, sabbaticals, three-month leave, volunteers of emergency services, professional sporting and cultural activities. Request for special leave arrangements would always be discussed and approved with the line manager

For Parents and Carers

We are committed to helping parents and carers balance their work and family responsibilities. This is supported by:

  • Maternity leave
  • Maternity Support leave
  • Paternity leave
  • Parental leave
  • Adoption leave
  • Special leave for urgent family reasons

Health and Wellbeing

We are committed to the health and wellbeing of our employees and have secured the Silver Award for Scotland's Health at Work and are currently working towards the Gold Award.

We offer:

  • Time off for IVF treatment, blood and bone marrow donations
  • Employee Assistance Programme: independent, 24 hour, confidential counselling service
  • Lifestyle management: tips on how to cope with the pressures of everyday life
  • Dignity at work policy: protection of employee's dignity and rights
  • Occupational sick pay: combination of half and full pay for a period of up to one year depending on your length of service
  • Stress at work policy: provides help, advice and counselling for those with stress related problems both at work and at home
  • Free eye tests: every two years, £50 towards glasses/lenses for dedicated VDU use
  • Leeds Hospital Fund: an optional employees benefit package for you and your family