The benefits

As part of your package at Ashfield we have a range of workplace health and benefits, available to all our employees.

Your pay and pensions

Living Wage employer

We are committed to being a living wage employer; all employees are paid at least the living wage.

The living wage figures are announced in November of each year, and implemented in the next tax year.

Visit www.livingwage.org.uk for more information.

Pay structure

We have a pay structure that encourages consistent salary levels, based on a nationally approved job evaluation scheme.

Occupational pension scheme

Eligible employees have the option to join the local government pension scheme. Your contribution to the scheme is dependent on your pensionable earnings; the higher amount you earn, the higher your contribution rate. The scheme is good value for money, as we also make a contribution.

In line with the legislation we are required to automatically enrol all eligible employees into the scheme on appointment, but you have the choice to opt out if you wish.

Employee Benefits

Free car parking

Parking is free for employees at our premises:

• main council offices at Urban Road, Kirkby in Ashfield
• Northern Depot.

Ashfield Rewards

This is a discount and benefit scheme which gives employees access to a great range of discounts from food shopping to holidays. There is something for everyone and 1000s of ways to save through the scheme.

Ashfield Rewards gives employees access to a great range of discounts on:

• travel bookings
• high street vouchers
• gift cards
• cinema tickets
• days out
• leisure activities
• day to day spending.

Visit www.ashfieldrewards.com for more information; the rewards are available whether you like to shop online or prefer to shop in store.

Microsoft Office

Employees can subscribe to Office 365 at a reduced annual fee, either a personal copy or for 6 people in a household.

Visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/workplace-discount-program for more information.

Employee health benefits

Ashfield District Council leisure facilities discounts

Our employees are entitled to use the 6 Ashfield District leisure centres for discounted rates for individual activities such as swimming, sports hall activities, snooker, squash and the fitness and health suites.

You can access the activities at a concessionary rate by producing your council photo ID card to the leisure centre receptionists at the time of payment. Please remember these relate to our employees only on production of your photo ID.

Cycle 2 Work scheme

We have a cycle to work scheme for our employees, available to purchase cycles and accessories and safety equipment, through salary sacrifice over a 12 month period. It saves up to 42% off the cost of bikes and associated equipment, used to cycle to work for at least 50% of journeys made. 

Workplace benefits

Generous annual leave

Full time employees are given a basic entitlement which is 30 days, after 5 years service the entitlement will increase to 35 days; part time employees entitlement will be prorated.

The 8 statutory bank holidays are in addition to the annual leave entitlement.

Flexible working hours

We have a policy which gives employees the opportunity to make a request to amend working patterns to a more flexible arrangement.

Other flexible arrangements include adjusting start/finish times, the location that you work at or the pattern of the days you work.

Flexi-time scheme

A Flexi-time scheme operates for eligible roles, which allows some discretion in working time. Eligibility to participate in scheme is subject to service requirements.

Payment of professional fees

Contribution towards professional fees for employees who meet the specified criteria.

Family friendly policies

We have a range of family friendly policies, which allow our employees to achieve a good work/life balance including:

• maternity policy
• paternity policy
• adoption policy
• parental leave policy. 

Career breaks

Employees can take a  career break for a number of reasons including personal development, the opportunity to travel, to undertake community work, or to fulfil personal and domestic commitments. Career breaks are unpaid and can be for a period of 3 months, up to one year. 

Special leave

We have a number of special leave allowances that allow employees to take time off in differing circumstances:

• bereavement leave
• domestic emergency leave
• unpaid leave
• service in non-regular forces
• public duty such as justice or jury service
• religious events and festivals
• time off for cancer screening
• time off for interviews at a Local Government employer. 

Relocation assistance

We offer relocation assistance for any employee who meets specific criteria including being employed in a permanent role or fixed term role for at least 12 months, currently lives more than 25 miles away from their role base at the council, and moves to accommodation within 15 miles of their new job role at the council. The relocation policy is included on this page, in the related document section.

Employee health assistance

Occupational Health

If you have a health issue, your manager may refer you, or you can ask to be referred to, an occupational health expert, in order to gain more information and advice or support mechanisms that can be put into place. 

Referred physiotherapy

In some instances, occupational health may recommend that physiotherapy would be beneficial to prevent further health issues which could result in time off work.

PAM Assist

We have an employee assistance service called PAM Assist. PAM Assist offer a free, confidential support service to all our employees and their families. This service is available 24/7, 365 days per year either online, by telephone or face to face. This service is completely confidential and can offer counselling services along with advice on family, financial and health issues.

Free eye test

Eye tests are available to all employees who use a VDU (a computer screen) or drive as an integral part of your job role. You can also get a contribution towards a pair of glasses if the eye test shows that you need them for your work.

Contact HR to obtain your eye test voucher.

Workplace health activities

A range of health and wellbeing activities are available to our employees including health checks, yoga, lunch time walks and workplace challenges. These are advertised on notice boards, screens and on the intranet.

Equality of Opportunity

Equality Framework for Local Government

This framework eliminates unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the act.

It advances equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not, and fosters good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Mindful employer charter

We have signed the Mindful Employer Charter; this demonstrates that we an employer that is positive about Mental Health and are focused on aspirations to promote good employee mental health within our organisation.

Disability Confident Employer

We are part of the Disability Confident accreditation scheme at the Employer level. This scheme is run by the Department for Work and Pensions encourages businesses to recruit and retain disabled people and people with health conditions for their skills and talent.

The core actions for the scheme are:

• actively looking to attract and recruit disabled people
• providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process
• offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job
• flexible when assessing people so disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job
• making reasonable adjustments as required
• encouraging our suppliers and partner firms to be Disability Confident
• ensuring that employees have sufficient disability equality awareness.

Learning and development

We provide comprehensive learning and development programme including extended and aspiring leadership programmes.