Arranging leave to perform election duties

​Employees who are supporting this week's Scottish Parliament election are being advised to request paid special leave to cover their absence from regular duties.

Paid leave will be given in respect of all election duties, including supporting polling places or taking part in the count.  Employees are not required to take flexi leave or annual leave to cover periods of absence when undertaking such duties.

Those taking part should already have permission from their line manager to undertake election duties. And for those taking part, a request for Paid Special Leave should be made via askHR.

Elections Co-ordinator Martin Ingram said: "The elections team is very grateful to all those who have offered to provide support for the Scottish Parliament election. Guidance around coronavirus means the number of opportunities for the count was slightly reduced this year, and we'd like to thank everybody who took the time to apply.

"As we are undertaking daytime counts for this election, it's important that paid special leave is in place for those joining us who would otherwise be working this Friday or Saturday."

Paid leave should only be requested for a day you usually work (e.g. if you usually work a Friday but not a Saturday, you should only request special leave for Friday).

For more information, please email elections@aberdeenshire.gov.uk