Reset & recovery days and birthday

days
One 'reset and recovery' day for every member of staff plus another day off on
or near your birthday

Reset & recovery days and birthday days

As we come out of the second wave of the pandemic and begin to re-start
services, the wellbeing of our staff is our priority. We recognise that everyone
needs a break and some time off in this period of transition. We are offering
every member of staff:

• one ‘reset and recovery’ day

• a day off on their birthday

This is a one-off agreement in response to the unique demands of Covid since

April 2020. The additional days of leave are a thank you for all staff for their
contribution during this unprecedented time and the sacrifice they have made
during 2020/21.

Reset and recovery days

We are offering every staff member one day of protected time to focus on their
own recovery. This day is separate and in addition to annual leave and is time
away from work where you can focus on plans and activities to support your own
wellbeing.

We will offer staff suggestions for activities and resources you can use, but it’s
up to you how you decide to spend your time. We will not log or monitor what
staff decide to do - this day has “no strings attached” other than to focus on
plans and activities to support your own wellbeing.

The day can be booked and taken anytime from when your manager confirms
you are de-deployed, or when you return to normal business as usual activities.
You then have until 30 June 2021 to take the day off. You should request the
days in accordance with your normal rules for annual leave and they do need
agreement from your manager, as services may need to be covered. Ideally we
would like you to take this day and add it to a block of annual leave or rostered
days off so you have a good break from work.
Birthday days off
On top of your reset and recovery day, as an initial thank you, and in
appreciation of your incredible hard work and sacrifices during this really
challenging period, we are giving all staff a second day off on your birthday.

If your birthday is already a non-working day, bank holiday, or if you do not want
to take it on your birthday, you can take it on another day any time between
March 2021 and 31 March 2022.

Discuss taking this day with your manager and book it out following the usual
process for booking annual leave.

Eligibility for birthday days and reset and recovery

days
All substantive and fixed term staff who are currently working for the Trust and
who joined us before 1 January 2021, are eligible to take both days. This
includes staff who were working remotely and staff who were shielding as we
believe all staff played their part in supporting our Covid response.

Staff who were off sick, self-isolating or on maternity leave during the annual
leave year (April 2020 to March 2021) can be awarded the days on a pro rata basis
depending on the period they worked.

As rule of thumb, if someone has worked more than 50 per cent of this period,
we recommend they receive two days and less than 50 per cent, one day.

Full-time staff are entitled to one day's leave as a rest and recovery day
and birthday day off. For Agenda for Change staff one day equates to a 7.5 hour
shift and for medical and dental staff these will each equate to an eight-hour
shift.

Staff who work part-time

If you work part-time, you will be entitled to two days pro rata – in the same
way as annual leave. We encourage managers to give part-time workers a
minimum of one-day off – rather than a few hours – as this will have the
greatest benefit.
Staff who are leaving the Trust
Ideally we would like you to take your days before you leave so you can rest and
take a break before starting your new job. If you are due to leave Trust
employment on or before 30 April 2021, and you can’t take the leave because of
your local roster or notice periods, then on an exceptional basis – and subject to
the agreement of your manager – you can be paid for the days on leaving.

When to book your reset and recovery day

The day can be booked and taken anytime from when your manager confirms
you are de-deployed, or when you return to normal business as usual activities.
You then have until 30 June 2021 to take the day off. Discuss taking this day with
your manager and book it out following the same process for booking annual
leave.

Staff will not be able to sell reset and recovery days back, as the core purpose of
them is to enable staff to take a break in the next four months as we transition
back to business as usual work. Pre-existing arrangements to sell back annual
leave will remain in place.

How to book reset and recovery days and birthday

days
You should request the days in accordance with normal rules for annual leave.
Like annual leave, your manager needs to agree these days so that service needs
are covered. You can request your days off via your rota manager or line manager
by email who will record on HealthRoster under 'Other Leave' as either
‘1.Rest/Recov - Rest and Recovery Day Off” or '2. B-Day - Birthday Day off'. The
days/hours will not appear as part of your annual leave allocation in the system.
Managers approving leave
Managers should record that staff are taking these days in HealthRoster by using
a new unavailability reason which can be found under 'Other Leave' and by
selecting either ‘1 Rest/Recov - Rest and Recovery Day Off’ or '2 B-Day Birthday
Day off'. You do not need to record any information about what staff did on these
days, but you do need to record that they took them. For AfC staff managers
need to use 7.5 hours as one day and for medics 8 hours for one day in line with
T&C's.

These days/hours will not appear as part of an employee’s leave allocation in

the system.

Finding time to take the reset and recovery days

and birthday days
We are planning to restart services over the next few months and we are all keen
to be able to give our patients access to the care they need. However, it is really
important that all staff have the opportunity to take some time to rest, reflect
and recover from the last few months.

We urge all managers to make it possible for staff to take this time off. Where it is
not possible to allow these leave requests because of critical service needs, we
encourage managers to escalate the issue to more senior managers so we can
find a solution.

You may feel you do not want to take these days off. However, everyone is
different and if you feel you do not want to take these days, you should discuss
this with your line manager and explain your reasons why.

How to spend your reset and recovery day

We encourage all staff to think about their own wellbeing on these days and
what will support you to reflect on your experiences. While we will offer staff
suggestions for activities and resources you can use, it’s up to you how you
decide to spend your time. We will not log or monitor what staff decide to do -
this day has “no strings attached” other than to focus on plans and activities to
support your own wellbeing.

We hope that whatever activities you choose, they will support your wellbeing;
we do hope that this does not include working elsewhere on those days (i.e.
agency working), or catching up with work emails as it is important that you do
take that break.