leave of absence question-HSE

dublingirl83

hi,
quick question....im currently employed under permanent contract with HSE as a nurse, i have been lucky enough to get sponsorship from HSE to return to training to become a public health nurse (involves 1 day college a week and the rest paid working in health centre).

i went into work today to hand in my notice and my boss asked me did i want to consider taking an unpaid leave of absense instead for the year in case i didnt like the new job or i failed exams etc- i would have a job to come back to.
and if i chose not to go back i could just let them know. (be like a safety net)

im just wondering if i done this, do you think it could impact negatively on the sponsorship im after getting/ or if i pass exams, the new job i hope to aqquire in the future (as i wouldnt of officially resigned from my current job) could if affect tax, pensions payments etc

or am i just over thinking the whole thing...:)and go hand in my notice and hope everyting goes well with the new training/ job.

any help much appreciated....thank you

JuliusCaesar

Why wouldn't you take Leave of Absense? It's a safety net you might want, or not, but it'd be there just in case.

Ask HR in case there are any restrictions as to what you can do while on LoA. I have an idea that they don't want you doing a job which would be in competition with the one you already have, and that it's designed for people doing courses/taking time out to rear children/travel/go work abroad for the experience, so it's fairly broad.

I can't think of any reason NOT to take it if you can.

dublingirl83

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

Why wouldn't you take Leave of Absense? It's a safety net you might want, or not, but it'd be there just in case.

Ask HR in case there are any restrictions as to what you can do while on LoA. I have an idea that they don't want you doing a job which would be in competition with the one you already have, and that it's designed for people doing courses/taking time out to rear children/travel/go work abroad for the experience, so it's fairly broad.

I can't think of any reason NOT to take it if you can.

thanks for taking the time to reply. when she mentioned the leave of absence to me, i explained that i would be getting paid during my new training, and would that be an issue. she said that it wasnt a problem, that many other nurses do it when training for paediatrics etc.

to be honest it all just sounded too good to be true, my worry is- as both jobs are with the HSE, if i took a leave of absence from current job, could i really get sponsorship and wages from new job. i dont want anything to impact on starting this new course, as had to go through tough application process to get my spot.

i should really just ring HSE HR department of new job and ask them outright, whats best....but would that make them think im not taking new job seriously as im keeping my old job as a back up...(and here i go overthinking the whole thing again ha ha)

Mrs OBumble

I thought twice about saying this ... but OP, you need to cop on a bit.

It's the same employer! Why on earth would you even be thinking of resigning? You're simply transferring from one job to another. Your service etc should be retained, but won't be in you do something stupid like resigning.

Your manager is being incredibly nice to you by presenting this an an option, and putting things as politely as s/he has, when you've clearly done no research into how other people have done things like this before. Don't let him/her down.

dublingirl83

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I thought twice about saying this ... but OP, you need to cop on a bit.

It's the same employer! Why on earth would you even be thinking of resigning? You're simply transferring from one job to another. Your service etc should be retained, but won't be in you do something stupid like resigning.

Your manager is being incredibly nice to you by presenting this an an option, and putting things as politely as s/he has, when you've clearly done no research into how other people have done things like this before. Don't let him/her down.

thank you for taking the time to reply and appreicate your honesty. i understand what you mean about same employer all being the HSE, but im leaving the current hospital i work for, coming off their payroll altogether- and taking up a new position with a new health centre, becoming a student again, new emplyment contract (which will only be valid for the year im a student- then have to apply for a job when qualified) new payroll dept, as it is a totally new job, new qualification, no longer just a nurse.

i honestly did try research this, and have found very little on the net- i also did ask around in work. most people just handed in resignation to ward and never came back. it was just yesterdy when i handed in my notice, she asked me- was i sure this new job was something i wanted to do forever, that i could have the option of a leave of absence for a year, if i wanted to come back.

i only posted my query on boards to look for advice- apologies if im asking stupid questions,i was just getting myself all muddled up overthinking it all

The_Conductor

You need to clarify this and get it in writing- do not accept any verbal assurances from anyone- get whatever they are offering in writing.

In general

The unpaid leave of absence scheme provides that staff may be granted special leave without pay for a period of not less than six months and not more than five years subject to meeting eligibility criteria. The grant of a career break is subject to certain conditions, the details of which can be clarified with the Personnel Section. Eligible staff may, in general, avail of three career breaks during their career subject to a maximum of 10 years in total. A second and third career break may not be taken until the staff member has served for a period equal to the duration of the previous career break. The period of a career break will not count as service for promotion, increment, or superannuation. On completion of a career break, a staff member will be assigned to the next appropriate vacancy, with a guarantee of re-employment in his/her original grade (although not necessarily in his/her original location), within twelve months of the end of the career break.

This is not entirely accurate btw- as revised guidelines issued to Personnel Officers in February of this year- lengthening the maximum combined period of unpaid leave of absence to 12 years (from 10)

It does allow for:

Unpaid Leave of absence for Educational purposes (educational purposes may include training courses with a practical training element for which there is a nominal payment/grant made to the student)

The general rules also state:

where an officer is on career break, s/he must not:
undertake any consultancy work, or provide any service whatsoever in return for payment, for a Government Department or any agency or body under its aegis, while on career break

Get whatever they are offering you spelt out in writing- and keep the letter safe.

Mrs OBumble

dublingirl83 wrote: »

i honestly did try research this, and have found very little on the net

What advice did your union have?