LEAVE AND SICKNESS

ANNUAL LEAVE

The Bishops recommend that all clergy and lay ministers should have four full weeks off every year, together with time off after Easter and Christmas. They ask incumbents to ensure that this time off is taken by their assistants and to have a similar amount of leave themselves. Churchwardens are asked to seek to ensure that this period off-duty is taken and to do all in their powers to make the holiday breaks possible.

Whilst it is legally the responsibility of an incumbent to ensure that during his holidays his duties are covered and officiants are paid when eligible, it is the Bishops’ recommendation that PCCs will take full responsibility for any such payments and will also cover all expenses of visiting clergy.

MATERNITY LEAVE

Although clergy are office-holders, they are given the same rights to maternity leave as employees, and are eligible for Statutory maternity pay (SMP), payable for 26 weeks.

Care should be taken not to risk losing entitlement to SMP, and clergy should avoid taking an active role in the parish and should not attend PCC meetings or take services on a regular basis whilst on maternity leave.

For full details, please contact the Stipends Department at the Diocesan Office. In particular, those living in a diocesan house, but not intending to return to work, should contact the Diocesan Office as soon as possible.

PATERNITY LEAVE

Legal entitlement – fathers are entitled to five days paternity leave to be taken at the time of birth, or in the following weeks, whichever is more helpful to the family.

Discretionary leave – at the discretion of the Archdeacon (and with the incumbent, if a curate), a further five days of paid special leave may be given to cope with a short-term crisis. Any further special leave (paid or unpaid) for similar reason is at the discretion of the Archdeacon.

TIME OFF

All clergy and ministers should take a whole day off each week, or its equivalent.

These periods off-duty should be adhered to because the spiritual well being of the people committed to their care requires spiritually alert and physically healthy clergy.

BETWEEN POSTS

Whilst it is recognised that clergy need time for moving and settling in, a period of three weeks should normally be considered the maximum period from the date of the farewell in one parish to the Institution or Licensing in the next.

SICKNESS

Payment of Stipend

During periods of sickness, the employer (for this purpose, the Church Commissioners) is responsible for the payment of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to male clergy of 65 and under, and women of 60 and under. If a period of illness lasts three days or less, there is no need to take any action other than to consult with neighbouring clergy or the Rural Dean if it becomes necessary to arrange for duties to be covered. For any period of illness that lasts four days or more, it is essential that the Church Commissioners be notified in writing as soon as possible. SSP will be payable from the fourth day onwards, but for all practical purposes no difference will be seen in the monthly stipend. The Commissioners will continue to pay the normal stipend in full and PAYE and National Insurance contributions will be deducted as usual, including that part of the pay which represents SSP. The Commissioners will reclaim the SSP they have paid so far from the DSS and any amount so reclaimed will be credited to the Diocesan Stipends Fund and thus be available for stipend purposes generally. It is essential that the Commissioners be notified of period of illness because, although the individual will not directly benefit, the Stipends Fund will be sustained to the relief of the Parish Share in due course.

After 28 weeks

SSP ceases to be payable by the Commissioners after 28 weeks as the responsibility is then transferred to the individual’s local DSS office. The DSS will pay state sickness benefit direct to the claimant, although it should be noted that they will almost certainly wish to see evidence of sickness by way of doctor’s certificates.

During this period of illness (i.e. after 28 weeks), the Commissioners will continue to pay the stipend in full so the person concerned will be in receipt of both a stipend and state sickness benefit. The state sickness benefit should, therefore, be sent periodically to the DBF, less any properly incurred additional personal expenses as detailed below. It is assumed that anyone ill for such a prolonged time will be in touch with the Bishop and Archdeacon who would always be pleased to advise.

Additional Personal Expenses

The Bishops have directed that clergy should not be financially worse off as a result of illness, so any additional expense incurred and attributed to the illness may be deducted from the state sickness benefit before the balance is paid to the Diocesan Board of Finance. This could include a variety of items such as additional costs to keep a bedroom heated, travelling expenses for visits to clinics or hospital visits for immediate members of the family. After prior consultation with the Bishop or Archdeacon, in some cases the cost of staying at a convalescent home may be deductible. There are no convalescent homes specifically for the clergy, but Bishops and Archdeacons can often advise on suitable places for short times of tranquillity and recuperation.

St Luke’s Hospital for the Clergy

Clergy are reminded of the medical and surgical facilities which are available to them and their dependent relatives from the St Luke’s Hospital for the Clergy. Full information can be obtained from the hospital at Room 201, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ, Telephone: 0207 898 1700, Email: admin@stlukeshealthcare.org.uk or at www.stlukeshospital.org.uk