Your reward and benefits
Published 21 May 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-for-ukhsa-information-for-applicants/your-reward-and-benefits
We want the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to be a great place to work for our people now and those who join us in the future.
We place great value on our total reward offer. In addition to your salary basic pay we offer a fantastic pension and a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support your professional and personal development, provide a good work-life balance and promote your health and wellbeing.
Workplace pension
Colleagues employed on Civil Service terms and conditions benefit from a Civil Service pension and UKHSA contributes an average of 28.98%.
Colleagues on medical or NHS terms are eligible for the NHS pension scheme.
A good work-life balance
To promote a good work-life balance we offer a wide range of flexible working options and our policies on leave provide a strong offer to support you through life’s events and milestones.
Annual leave
Our standard holiday entitlement is 26 days (as well as 8 bank holidays and an extra day off for the King’s Birthday) which can increase up to 32 days dependent on length of service.
UKHSA will take account of previous service in other government departments, local authorities and the NHS to determine your entitlement to service-related benefits, such as annual leave, sick pay and parental leave.
Maternity and adoption leave
Any colleague who is expanding their family either through maternity or adoption is entitled to 52 weeks leave. How much of this will be paid leave will depend on your length of service. UKHSA’s occupational maternity and adoption offer provides 26 weeks at full pay dependent on your length of service.
Paternity leave
UKHSA’s occupational paternity offer provides 6 weeks at full pay dependent on your length of service.
Shared parental leave
We offer the opportunity for eligible new parents to take a combined 52-week period jointly with pay mirroring our occupational maternity offer. More details can be found in the Shared Parental Leave Policy.
Special leave
We understand that you need to balance your work with your domestic and family responsibilities. You can request to take special leave to support you in meeting these commitments. You can receive an additional 6 days paid leave in a 12-month rolling period. Please note this is pro rata if you work part time. There are several types of special leave including dependent care and bereavement leave.
Flexible and hybrid working
We promote flexible working and different working patterns to suit a variety of needs.
We also offer hybrid working for some roles where a minimum of 60% is spent based in one of our locations. Some roles will be based on site due to the nature of the work (such as laboratory work).
Volunteering days
Colleagues can take up to 5 days of paid leave for volunteering every year.
Staff Discounts
Mylifestyle is our employee benefits website. This includes shopping discounts at big retailers and supermarkets with ‘my discounts’, tax savings on childcare vouchers (for those eligible), and charitable giving.
Blue Light Card is the UK’s largest Emergency Service discount offer for public servants in response roles and offers discounts on holidays, car insurance, mobile phones, fashion, shopping, financial services, and much more.
Civil Service Motoring Association and Civil Service Insurance Society for discounts on car, home, and travel insurance.
Civil Service Sports and Gym Discounts for UKHSA colleagues include exclusive discounts to The Gym Group and Anytime Fitness, as well as access to the Civil Service Sports Club, which offers participation in a wide range of sports clubs, social activities, and big discounts across a range of goods and services.
Season ticket loans and Cycle to Work
We offer colleagues an interest-free season ticket loan (for a ticket value of up to £10,000) as well as a Cycle to Work scheme that allows employees to hire up to £4,000 worth of bike and/or bike equipment a year.
Employee networks
Networks provide peer support and a platform to ensure everyone has a voice. Many umbrella networks have sub-networks created by staff themselves. The diversity and inclusion (D&I) team welcomes any further suggestions of sub-groups to meet staff D&I needs and interests as they arise.
Your health and wellbeing
Health
Colleagues can access our Occupational Health service, Employee Assistance Programme, and can benefit from free eye tests and corrective lenses and free flu jabs.
Support
We have a variety of support groups and networks for when you are going through a difficult time, these include:
- grief and bereavement
- men’s health network
- cancer support
- diabetes support networks
There is also the Charity for Civil Servants who provide support to all civil servants.
Wellbeing
We provide access to a range of free mental-wellbeing resources, including:
- in-work mental health support
- access to the Calm app
- wellbeing-champions
- mindfulness sessions
- a wellbeing library
UKHSA also has a trained group of Mental Health First Aiders who are there to listen, reassure, and signpost to the most appropriate services
We have a Rent Support Scheme, which helps colleagues meet the cost of deposits for privately rented homes through a salary advance to be repaid over an agreed term.
Search roles we are currently recruiting for on Civil Service Jobs.