advice need please

[happy]

can someone answer a question for me if a member of staff went on sabbatical for three years and then came back would there seniority still go up when they were away. eg if the were number 50 and two people left in there second year would they be 48 or would they still be number 50 ?

[fishtank]

No...it's frozen.

[fishtank]

6 All service within an appropriate grade, whether on permanent or temporary basis, will count for seniority purposes, with the exception of any periods worked on a casual contract,or during a career break or sabbatical. Unpaid leave will count provided there is no break in contract. Service after age 60 will continue to count. However service must be continuous for seniority purposes, with periods prior to any break in contract (due to re-employment, for example) not generally included, unless there are exceptional circumstances applying to particular cases that are agreed at local level.

[happy]

thank you for the help fishtank

[Viewfindergeneral]

6 All service within an appropriate grade, whether on permanent or temporary basis, will count for seniority purposes, with the exception of any periods worked on a casual contract,or during a career break or sabbatical. Unpaid leave will count provided there is no break in contract. Service after age 60 will continue to count. However service must be continuous for seniority purposes, with periods prior to any break in contract (due to re-employment, for example) not generally included, unless there are exceptional circumstances applying to particular cases that are agreed at local level.

Are you saying that if for example, you had more than one period of employment with Royal Mail, separated by time spent working elsewhere, that the total of the periods of employment would count towards your seniority? What about years worked at Parcelforce. Do they count as well?

The reason I ask is I am in the situation where I worked for Royal Mail as a postman for 7 years then left for 2 years to work elsewhere, then worked for Parcelforce for 9 years and was made redundant, worked elsewhere again and then finally rejoined Royal Mail as a OPG up to the present time.

If this is the case then it would be very useful when it comes to any future re-pick. Also am I right in thinking that if this is the case then I would be entitled to more annual leave as I would have totalled service of more than 20 years?

[fishtank]

No it's the opposite i'm afraid.

However service must be continuous for seniority purposes, with periods prior to any break in contract (due to re-employment, for example) not generally included, unless there are exceptional circumstances applying to particular cases that are agreed at local level.

Exceptional circumstances may be something like being forced to have a break in service to care for a terminally ill partner.
In my opinion it's a little unfair.
Length of service should mean how many years you have worked for the company whether it's broken service or not...but that's just an opinion not the way it is unfortunately.

[Viewfindergeneral]

No it's the opposite i'm afraid.

However service must be continuous for seniority purposes, with periods prior to any break in contract (due to re-employment, for example) not generally included, unless there are exceptional circumstances applying to particular cases that are agreed at local level.

Exceptional circumstances may be something like being forced to have a break in service to care for a terminally ill partner.
In my opinion it's a little unfair.
Length of service should mean how many years you have worked for the company whether it's broken service or not...but that's just an opinion not the way it is unfortunately.

I should have realised that of course if I had read your original reply properly. Serves me right for speed reading ! Shame though. Service is service I would have said, broken or not. Seniority is gained by increased service so it seems a little unfair but that's Royal Mail for you I suppose.