HR policies

We have a range of policies to ensure that you get the support you need during your employment.  If you would like further information on any of the polices outlined below please contact your HR Adviser or hrms.enquiries@chester.ac.uk.

Adoption Leave

You will qualify for adoption leave if you;

  • have been newly matched with a child for adoption by an adoption agency
  • produce a certificate of adoption/matching
  • notify the University within 7 days of being notified by the adoption agency.

Eligible employees may take up to 52 weeks’ adoption leave.

You will be entitled to University Occupational Adoption Pay if you:

  • have completed 1 year’s continuous service with the University ending with the week in which you are notified of being matched for adoption and
  • give appropriate notification to the university.

Maternity Leave, Maternity Pay and Time off for Antenatal Care

Irrespective of length of service with the University, a pregnant employee is entitled to 26 weeks’ Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML) and 26 weeks’ Additional Maternity Leave (AML).

The entitlement to maternity pay is as follows:

  • If you have 26 weeks’ continuous service by the end of the 15th week before the expected date of confinement and your earnings are above the lower earnings limit for national insurance, you will be entitled to receive Statutory Maternity Pay during the first 39 weeks of maternity leave.
  • If you have completed one year’s continuous service with the University at the beginning of the 15th week before the expected week of confinement and give appropriate notification to the University you will be entitled to University Occupational Maternity Pay during the first 39 weeks of maternity leave.
  • The remaining 13 weeks of maternity leave are unpaid.

All pregnant employees are entitled to reasonable time off with pay for antenatal care, subject to confirmation of appointments.

Parental Leave

Parental leave is the right to take unpaid time off work to look after a child or to make arrangements for the child’s welfare. It can be taken up to the child’s 18th birthday. Each parent can take 18 weeks’ parental leave for each child. A maximum of 4 weeks can be taken in any one year in respect of each child. Parental leave may be taken in blocks or multiples of one week only, unless the child is disabled, in which case leave may be taken in blocks or multiples of one day.

You will qualify for parental leave if you have:

  • parental responsibility for the child and
  • 1 year’s continuous service with the University by the start of the leave.

Paternity/Co-Parenting Leave

You will qualify for paternity/co-parenting leave if:

  • your partner is expecting a baby or if you are the biological father of an expected baby, you are adopting a child with your partner or your partner is adopting a child; AND
  • you expect to have responsibility for the child’s upbringing

Fathers/partners are entitled to take up to two weeks’ paternity/co-parenting leave on full pay. Any additional time off may be requested as holiday or as parental leave which will be unpaid. Employees can also take paid leave to accompany a pregnant woman to up to two antenatal appointments.

Shared Parental Leave

Shared Parental Leave (SPL) allows eligible parents to share some of the 52 weeks of maternity or adoption leave with their partner, and is designed to give them more flexibility in how to share the care of the child.

Special Leave

Special leave with or without pay may be granted irrespective of service, for events which fall outside the provision for time off contained in other policies.

Special leave with pay may be granted for:

  • compassionate leave (parental bereavement leave) – up to 2 weeks
  • compassionate leave (bereavement of a close relative) – up to 1 week
  • dependency leave (where a dependent is hospitalised unexpectedly or terminally ill) – up to 3 days
  • elected representatives of recognised trade unions – reasonable time off
  • volunteer reservists – up to 2 weeks
  • Cadet Adult Force Volunteers – up to 3 days

Special leave without pay may be granted for:

  • public duties – reasonable time off
  • jury service and involvement in court proceedings – determined on a case by case basis
  • other circumstances – determined on a case by case basis.

Time Off for Dependents

  • Reasonable time off without pay may be granted to an employee, irrespective of length of service, to deal with certain unexpected or sudden emergencies and to make any necessary longer-term arrangements.  A dependant is a family member, a person who relies on the employee for assistance or someone for whom the employee is the primary carer.
  • Time off is intended for unforeseen matters. If you know in advance that you will need time off, you should request annual leave or, if appropriate, special leave or parental leave.

Sickness Absence and Occupational Sick Pay

  • A high standard of attendance is crucial to the delivery of the University’s objectives and the quality of our service provision, and we wish to ensure that our policies and practices provide appropriate support to all members of staff in relation to their health, wellbeing and attendance. Staff who are ill will be treated sympathetically, and every effort will be made to assist their recovery.
  • Occupational sick pay allowances are dependent your length of continuous service.  You may be entitled to receive occupational sick pay in any one year period as follows:

During 1st year of service

1 month’s full pay and (after completing 4 months’ service) 2 months’ half pay

During 2nd year of service

3 months’ full pay and 3 months’ half pay

During 3rd year of service

4 months’ full pay and 4 months’ half pay

After 3 years’ service

6 months’ full pay and 6 months’ half pay

Staff Performance and Development Planning

We are committed to development for all staff, and actively encourage, enable and support staff in obtaining further qualifications, training and experience which will facilitate personal and professional development enabling you to achieve your full potential, perform your role more effectively and contribute towards achievement of the University’s aims and objectives.

Personal and professional development objectives are agreed with your line manager during your annual Performance and Development Planning (PDP) meeting. The PDP will review your strengths and areas for development and enable you and your manager to discuss your progress and identify any development necessary to enable you to meet your objectives successfully.

Staff Development

The Organisational Development (OD) Team are part of Human Resources and play a crucial part in facilitating staff development, promoting, and implementing equality, diversity and inclusivity practices and the supporting the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The overall goal of the OD team is to enhance Employee Engagement, where members of staff have a fulfilling positive experience when at work. The team can work with you to:

  • Provide staff development, training, coaching, and mentoring across the University.
  • Deliver a wide range of development and training workshops and programmes to support your professional and personal development.
  • Support your performance and  development through the Performance and Development Planning (PDP) scheme.
  • Enable you to take a pro-active role in the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity agenda.
  • Promote a working and learning environment that values diversity, promotes inclusion, and is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for students, staff, visitors, service users, partners, and stakeholders.
  • Provide guidance and expertise on equality and diversity related
  • Develop your Leadership and Management capabilities if you are a leader or aspiring leader.
  • Facilitate you to undertake Staff Apprenticeship Programmes.

The team can help you to identify staff development opportunities relevant to your role, including:

  • Mandatory training
  • Workshops
  • Leadership and Management Development
  • Accredited programmes
  • Apprenticeships
  • Managers guides
  • Coaching and Mentoring
  • Online Learning
  • Action Learning
  • Health and Safety training
  • Mental Health Awareness
  • Distance learning courses
  • Bespoke team development

For further information on Staff Development at the University please contact trainingenquiries@chester.ac.uk