Annual leave buyback scheme continued

The Trust is continuing its annual leave buy back scheme. 

This enables all Trust staff on substantive or fixed term contracts to ‘sell’ up to one week’s (37.5 hours) annual leave from their current (2021/22 or 2022/23) leave entitlement. Employees can also choose to cancel and ‘sell’ leave that is already booked but not yet taken.

Annual Leave Buy Back was initiated as a temporary scheme to support increased operational demand. It has now been added permanently to the Annual Leave Policy. Details on how to make an application can be found here.

There are a few key elements of the process that all staff should be aware of:

• Applications to ‘sell’ leave is being considered to support the delivery of services, i.e. increase the available staffing.
• Applications can be for a maximum of 37.5 hours (pro-rata for part time staff) in each annual leave year. This will include any hours already brought back.
• Staff must have taken or booked their statutory minimum AL allowance of 28 days (210 hours) including public holidays / 20 days (150 hours) where public holidays are not front-loaded on GRS (pro rata for part-time employees). These hours cannot be brought back.
• ‘Sold’ annual leave will be paid at plain time.
• Applications must be supported by your line manager, following a review of your health and wellbeing.
• If staff leave the Trust having taken more than their accrued leave entitlement (including hours ‘sold’ through this process) their final salary will be amended accordingly.

If you are unsure of any details, or have any questions, please contact your line manager in the first instance or email ALBuyBack@eastamb.nhs.uk.

Published 25th February 2022