Great Britain: Council staff get time off for boob jobs (unpaid leave to 'generate goodwill')

The Manchester Evening News ^ | January 15, 2009 | Brian Lashley

[Stoat]

Council staff get time off for boob jobs

Brian Lashley
15/ 1/2009

 

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."

[Stoat]

Related:

Council chiefs are making a boob of staff flexi-time says Tory leader - News - Tameside Advertiser

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[Stoat]

COUNCIL staff are feeling plastic fantastic after town hall chiefs agreed to be ‘flexible’ over time off for cosmetic surgery.

But Tory leader Councillor John Bell is furious over the decision, claiming it heralds an era of "boob jobs on the rates".

[Beaten Valve]

Boobs and liposuction, but no penile implants??

I’m sure that someone in that town is fuming right now...

[WakeUpAndVote]

Did someone say BOOBIES?

[lormand]

I would have to see the before/after results before I make a judgment.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

...Tameside council acted after a string of workers came forward demanding so-called ‘life-choice procedures’....

How about the “life-choice procedure” of “don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out?”.....

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Useless without pictures so we can judge the results.....

[dilvish]

What’s wrong with getting unpaid leave? They aren’t getting paid.

[Beaten Valve]

Boobs for “boobs”; town council workers...

[domenad]

Believe me, it will improve employee morale.

[Stoat]

I’m sure that someone in that town is fuming right now...

People seem to be fuming all over the country.  As usual, The Daily Mail has some choice reader comments....here are just a very few:

Council offers workers time off for breast enlargement surgery Mail Online

It's the way forward, you have to keep 'abreast' of the times.

 

- John, Liverpool, 15/1/2009 12:34

       

We pay £103.00 council tax per month out of our state pensions, for which we get street lighting and an excellent refuse collection service, but 'that' is 'that'. It makes me boil when I read about this tripe and I object very strongly to having to foot the bill for our council's decision to add another bank holiday on top of the existing official ones, which they do every Christmas, Easter and any other days they can 'justify'.

 

- Kathleen, North Staffordshire, 15/1/2009 12:24

       

On what type of economic planet does this councl inhabit ?

 

- G. Forshaw, Preston, Lancs, 15/1/2009 12:24

       

Brilliant, what a wonderful idea. Why not take it one step further and pay them a full salary and then when they do come into work on the odd day give them a bonus for their trouble.

 

- kb, London, UK, 15/1/2009 3:30

[WakeUpAndVote]

How about this pic of some Great British Tits.

[squidly]

What do they need unpaid leave for? Isn’t it a one day outpatient procedure? Just take a sick day.

[squidly]

What do they need unpaid leave for? Isn’t it a one day outpatient procedure? Just take a sick day.

[End Times Sentinel]

Wow, the more things change, the more they stay the same...

"I suppose you'll be wanting the whole day tomorrow."
"If quite convenient, sir."
"Every Christmas you say the same thing. And every Christmas it's just as inconvenient as the Christmas before. Good night."

[DannyTN]

Exactly, and I can think of worst ways public money has been spent, at least this qualifies as a beautification project.

[Stoat]

What’s wrong with getting unpaid leave? They aren’t getting paid.

Many online commenters are making this point, but there are also responses similar to this::

If you read the whole piece it says 3rd paragraph from the bottom "The council admits the move will cost extra money." Okay, it also adds "but claims the amount will be limited" but it is still going to be money coming out of taxpayer's funds.

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.

Garsinho, Manchester
15/01/2009 at 13:45

 

[Stoat]

What do they need unpaid leave for? Isn’t it a one day outpatient procedure? Just take a sick day.

Apparently, taking a sick day doesn't involve the generation of goodwill.

From the article:

But they say undergoing cosmetic surgery can be a ‘stressful experience’ and insist that by being flexible it can make ‘a real difference to the employee and generate goodwill.’

[mad puppy]

My wife thinks I’m a boob. I want 3 weeks off so I can be a bigger boob.....for her.

[dilvish]

Well there will be lost work, but in the end it’s unpaid leave. You really have three choices with any kind of medical procedure:
cover it as some sort of short term disability
make use vacation and sick time
let them take the time as unpaid leave

Since these procedures are optional #1 doesn’t really work, that’s really for needed surgeries. So that leaves #2 or #3, #3 is the cheapest for the organization. You could force them to use vacation, but then you’ve got a problem if people can’t accrue enough vacation for surgery recovery. Most places I’ve worked unpaid leave is an option for just about anything, if you need to be away from work for something and you don’t have the PTO you either go in the hole (boss’ option, usually involves paperwork where the boss indicates they don’t intend to fire you before you earn back the time) or go unpaid. Bereavement, plastic surgery, psychological breakdown, the basic structure of PTO or unpaid generally holds and makes sense.