Medway Council provides a range of employee benefits to support staff including:

Annual leave of between 24 and 30 days

Annual leave of between 24 and 30 days, depending on grade and continuous local government services.

Plus bank holidays and an ex-gratia day at Christmas.

Learning and personal development opportunities

Access to learning and development opportunities including:

  • face-to-face training
  • elearning
  • apprenticeships
  • coaching and mentoring
  • community care inform
  • secondment
  • personal development plans.

A 5-day protected induction programme.

Quarterly staff engagement events and annual staff recognition awards.

Employee support

Employee support groups

We have a diverse and inclusive workforce, with the following active employee support groups:

Medway Makers engagement champions network

The council recognises the importance of ensuring all employees have a voice in organisational and workplace matters, especially large-scale change. The Medway Makers engagement champions network provide a feedback mechanism for staff views to reach senior level decision makers.

Employee Wellbeing Champions network

Medway Council signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge in May 2019.  As part of the pledge we set up a network of volunteer Employee Wellbeing Champions to help us support each other and raise awareness of mental health in the workplace. 

Our employee wellbeing champions are friendly, caring colleagues volunteering their time to give support to others at work. Whether you're dealing with stress or worry or having a difficult time with your mental health, the champions can offer a listening ear and let you know more about the support available. 

BAME Forum

This employee forum promotes diversity in the workplace. The forum works together with the Equalities Board and senior managers to raise any issues on behalf of staff and to raise their profile in the workplace. 

Disabled Workers and Carers Network

This forum consists of employees who have a disability, impairment or long-term limiting illness, health condition or are a carer of a person with a disability or impairment. 

It supports all its members and acts as a consultation body on council policies and training issues.

LGBTQI+ Workers’ Forum

This forum is made up of employees who either identify as LGBTQI+, or who consider themselves an ‘ally’ – this may be because they have friends, family members or close colleagues who are LGBTQI+.

The forum aims to promote awareness and opportunity for LGBTQI+ employees within the council, promote acceptance and awareness of LGBTQI+ issues, and discourage prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.  

Gender Equality Forum

This forum consists of employees who share a vision and want to support and forge a gender equal world. It supports all its members and acts as a consultation body on council policies.

Workplace Chaplain

Kent Workplace Mission offers a professional chaplaincy service to Medway.   

Looking after your health and wellbeing

Care First

Care First confidential counselling is available free to employees 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. In addition, Care First Lifestyle provides comprehensive information, support and wellness to support employees online.

Eye Care Voucher Scheme

Free eye examination for all employees who spend considerable time using display screen equipment. Eye care provider is Specsavers. Receive a discount of £45 towards the cost of your glasses if your eye prescription is solely for VDU usage. 

A Better Medway

A wealth of information accessible to employees on how to take best care of yourself and support your wellbeing.

Flexible working

The council has invested in more flexible and family friendly working arrangements including:

  • flexi time
  • hybrid working (minimum of 2 days in the office with option to work from home)
  • 9-day fortnight
  • mobile working
  • fixed working (office based)
  • career break scheme.

You’ll have access to equipment to support you to work flexibly.

Large range of staff discounts

We offer discounts on shopping and days out, greener travel, health and wellbeing, and free car parking.

We offer a lease car scheme, essential user scheme and car allowances (dependent on role).

Shopping and days out

You’ll benefit from great shopping and days out at discounted prices:

  • Medway More4you Vectis allows you to take advantage of a wide range of discounts available at stores, restaurants, leisure facilities and many more
  • Civil Service Sports Club (CSSC) allows you to access a range of everyday savings. Membership is £4.50 a month
  • Dell Advantage provides discount across the entire Dell consumer product range
  • TimeOut is our local sports and social club.

Helping you travel greener around Medway

Tusker Green car salary sacrifice scheme

If you order a pure electric car with Tusker you’ll get significant income tax and NI (National Insurance) savings.

Bus and rail season ticket loan scheme

You can apply for an interest free loan (up to £2,000) to buy an annual train or bus season ticket.

You’ll also get discounted travel with Arriva.

Cycle interest-free loan scheme

You can apply for an interest free loan (up to £1,000) to buy a cycle.

Scooter and motorcycle interest free loan scheme

You can apply for an interest free loan (up to £1,000) to buy a scooter or motorcycle.

Giving to your favourite charity through your salary

You can give to charity using the following schemes:

  • Give as you earn scheme: donate a regular sum to a charity or charities of your choice through your salary
  • Pennies from Heaven: donate the odd pennies, rounded up to the nearest pound, from your salary each month.