Working part-time after taking parental leave now an option for Lethbridge Police Officers
LETHBRIDGE – The Lethbridge Police Service is making some big changes so they can not only recruit, but retain more female officers. They’re allowing them to work part-time after they come back from parental leave, if they choose to do so.
Chief Rob Davis says it has been difficult to keep women on the force for a number of reasons. One of those includes the challenges female officers face, after coming back from maternity leave. Many would like to work reduced hours, so they can also take care of their very young children. But until recently, that hasn’t been a possibility.
Inspector Tom Ascroft says there have been a number of roadblocks in the past, including the shift schedule and collective agreement that would only allow for full-time employment.
“I don’t know if it we’re just getting our heads wrapped around it or…again, there’s just so many roadblocks, cause there’s collective agreements, legislation and all of that stuff takes-to get a government to change this it’s gotta be on their agenda. They have certain things that they want to move through in the legislative sitting, and if they have to change the pension law or if they need an Order In Council and a Minister has to sign it, it’s sometimes a matter of briefing packages and getting all that done.”
He says it also takes some changes in thinking and progressive labour and managment leaders in the workplace, especially if the majority of the officers are male.
“It’s a male dominated industry,” explains Davis.”So our first female officer that wanted to exercise part-time, that took huge courage. So that needs to be recognized. I think we’re seeing a generational shift where the female officers are coming forward and saying ‘you know what? yeah, I am gonna be part of the change.’ That’s encouraging for me as a Chief. When the officer is willing to come forward, and the [Lethbridge Police]Association is willing to work with us to make this. That’s huge.”
After one female officer successfully tried working part-time last year, there is now one other woman doing so, and a male officer who has also approached the Chief to take parental leave.
Davis says not only is it a priority for the LPS to recruit and maintain female employment within the force, but also to attract people with more diverse backgrounds.
“We have an officer, Roberta Smallbones and we’ve agreed to a leave of absence so she can be part of the faculty at Lethbridge College. Roberta can be there. It’s known that she’s an officer, she’s a female member of around 15 years I believe….. and so by having her there, she can share her experiences.”
He says the days of being in an office and recruiting people are over. They need to be in the community, they need to be progressive and they need to get a variety of people interested in policing.
