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The British Council is committed to offering wherever possible, our staff an opportunity to benefit from the principles of flexible working. A number of options for flexible working exist for staff to benefit from. Click here to find out more about flexible working options.
Work Hours
Staff at the British Council is expected to be present in the office during certain periods of the working day. These periods are known as core hours. Normally, core hours are 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Beyond these hours, staff has the flexibility to alter work hours.
At the British Council, we believe firmly in advocating a work life balance for all staff members. The Work-Life Balance Group at the British Council ensures that work-life balance policies and procedures are applied consistently across the organisation, all staff understands the importance of achieving a healthy balance between home and work, and that all managers understand the business benefits of flexible working.
Annual and Special Leaves
Staff at the British Council is entitled to 23 working days as annual leave. The Council strongly advocates and encourages all staff members to manage their leave plans and to avail their complete entitlement during the year for them to maintain a healthy work life balance.
In order to help them strike a balance between your professional and personal responsibility, on certain occasions, the Council offers its members special paid leave in addition to their normal annual leave entitlements.
Parenting Leaves
Paid Maternity & Paternal Leave: New birth mothers are entitled to a paid maternity leave of 14 weeks. Pregnant staff may also take reasonable time off for ante-natal appointments. New fathers are eligible for paid ten days paternity leave.
Maternal/ Paternal Adoptive Leave: Female/ Male members of British Council are also eligible for paid maternal/ paternal adoption leave.
Health and Insurance Benefits
Medical, Dental and Vision Cover: All costs related to medical treatment which includes hospitalization, medicines and tests, are covered for staff, their spouse and children from their day of joining the British Council. Emergency medical treatment is also reimbursed. A cover plan for dental checkups and treatment up to a certain limit per year also exist. Eyesight checkups, contacts, lenses and frames costs are covered for staff up to certain limit per year.
Travel, Injury & Group Insurance: In case of belongings lost or stolen whilst travelling overseas or within the country on an official call, staff is covered accordingly. Life and injury insurance are provided under a State Life of Pakistan Group Scheme.
Death in Service: Staff can nominate any person (including a child) or organisation (such as a bank, a trustee, and a firm of solicitors or accountants) as next of kin to receive death benefit (a lump sum of not less than two years’ salary)
Employment Assistance Programme: The British Council recognises that staff can benefit from the right help and advice at some times in their lives, and chooses to provide staff with an independent, impartial and confidential service designed to make their and their immediate family members lives easier.
Gratuity Benefit
Staff, upon leaving the British Council, will be entitled to a length of service payment.
Staff who have completed five or more but less than 10 years, of service are entitled ½ month’s salary for every completed year of service. Staff who have completed 10 years or more of service are entitled to 1 month’s salary for every completed year of service.
Provident Fund
On completion of the probationary period, staff members automatically become a member of the Staff Provident Fund and 10% of salary will be deducted from salary and credited to the Fund together with an equal amount payable by the British Council. On leaving employment, for whatever reasons, staff receives the total of your contribution, the British Council’s contribution and any accrued interest, as a lump sum payment.
Up to 75% of staff’s own contribution can be taken as an interest free loan repayable in 36 months.
Staff Association and Welfare Fund
All staff at The British Council is encouraged to be a part of the Staff Association. Associations exist in Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi offices. They hold regular elections and appoint office bearers. Staff may choose to take a loan from the Staff Welfare Fund via local office Staff Association.
Benevolent Fund
The British Council Benevolent fund provides emergency relief and help to staff who are facing immediate and acute financial need. In some cases, the Fund also assists the families of staff. Help is given in the form of a grant or a loan.
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