Posted on 01/15/2009 7:15:15 AM PST by Stoat
A TOWN hall has been criticised after offering staff unpaid leave to have boob jobs.
Tameside council acted after a string of workers came forward demanding so-called 'life-choice procedures', such as breast enhancement and liposuction.
Where procedures are for purely cosmetic reasons, managers will be told to 'explore' a number of options - including offering unpaid leave on top of existing holiday allowances.
Previously, staff had to take time out of their annual leave unless they had a note from a doctor.
The new policy is intended to cover all workers, except teachers and other school staff.
Council chiefs said they were acting because cosmetic surgery was a 'stressful experience'. They claimed being 'flexible' about the matter would 'generate goodwill' among staff.
Opposed
But opposition councillors branded the new policy an 'appalling waste of time and money'.
"I am completely opposed to the idea of 'boob jobs' on the rates," said Tory group leader John Bell. "Such practices are unheard of in the private sector.
"This is a typical example of a politically correct Labour non-policy that hard-working taxpayers will be expected to fund.
"I find it appalling that public time and money has been wasted on this matter."
The new policy, which is in draft form, will apply to a range of operations. These include vasectomies, sterilisations and laser eye treatments as well as cosmetic surgery.
As well as unpaid leave, managers will discuss staff making up the time in lieu or 'buying' extra holiday time. The council admits the move will cost extra money, but claims the amount will be 'limited'.
Joe Kitchen, the town hall's human resources chief, accused the Conservatives of 'playing politics' with a sensitive issue.
Samantha Dunbar, of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: "If someone wants cosmetic surgery simply because they're unhappy with their appearance then special leave can't be justified."
“But, this is not just about the money. If you have people taking time off for surgery then who is going to do their work? Their colleagues will probably have to cover for them but I doubt they will be able to do 2 people’s work without there being a backlog and if that happens in say the Social Services department then we are going to end up with more kids being abused by adults but slipping through the system because of lack of staff.”
My experience working both in private business and for the state is that most people preparing for a planned absence, whether for vacation or elective surgery, end up working much harder before they leave and after they return to make up the lost time. Of course this depends on what type of position you hold, but both my wife and I work our tails off before a vacation.
That sounds like something that should be implemented as policy in your place of work...as a goodwill gesture.
What does it matter that work doesn't get done or your coworkers have to make up for your absence?
ping
All British local councils are bent backwards, and corrupt as all Hell.
Just thought you should know this....
I believe that’s become apparent even to those of us who pay scant attention to their various nefarious activities....although good news about anything is rarely remarked upon the the Press, the sheer deluge of specific and tangible events involving a breathtaking level of near-Fascist dictats, cheerfully implemented under threat of stiff fines and punishments is so massive that only the least curious among us are likely to have missed the growth of these fiefdoms whose purpose appears mainly to keep a steady, even and increasing pressure of an iron bootheel on the necks of our British Friends.
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