Introduction

New guidance has been published to support the return to work on campus process:

• Returning to work on campus: Staff Guide 
• Returning to work on campus: Overview for Line Managers 

Earlier in the year we ran a short staff survey to get a sense of how people were responding to the significant challenges presented by COVID-19. We have now published the results of this survey, but one thing that was clear throughout was the resolve and adaptability staff have shown while working in what, for many, have been very difficult circumstances.

With that in mind, the Executive Group has decided to grant two further rest days for all staff on 9 and 10 July in recognition of the huge demands these changes have made of us all. 

More information can be found on the FAQ page.

Following the popularity of the Additional Leave Purchase scheme in 2019, this will become an annual scheme from 2020.

This scheme has been devised to provide staff with additional flexibility in respect of planned time off work whether that be for a special occasion, an extended holiday (once travel restrictions are lifted), to help with caring responsibilities, or simply to support your wellbeing.

Applications for this year can be made, via Staff Connect, from now until the end of June 2020 and the leave can be taken between July 2020 and June 2021. Full details of the scheme, including eligibility and how to apply can be found on the HR webpages.

This is a difficult time for all staff and we understand that the current stresses imposed on us by Covid-19 are taking a toll. Consequently, in order to provide some much needed time for recuperation, the University is granting two rest days over the next two weeks, commencing 6 April, in order to say thank you to all of our staff who have been working tirelessly over the past weeks to keep the University operational.

The days are not fixed in order to maintain as much flexibility for staff as possible, are fully paid and are in addition to annual leave. We want those who can to spend some time away from work to spend with your families and to look after your own wellbeing. Please talk to your manager who will facilitate and coordinate requests for taking these days off.

More information can be found on the FAQ page.

We have introduced a new University Pay Policy related to COVID-19 that sets out our temporary deviations from standard policies. This recognises that staff may find it difficult to work from home or while caring for dependents, and are concerned about their pay.

The priority at this time is to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of the University’s staff, students and visitors. Vist the Coronavirus - Information for Staff pages for detailed information to support staff during this period.

Last year, the University and College Union (UCU) announced its intention to launch industrial action in the form of a strike and action short of a strike (ASOS) as a part of its dispute relating to the national pay award.

At Kent, further strike action has been announced and is scheduled to take place between the 24-26 February, 2-5 March, 9-13 March, 16 and 17 March.  The period of ASOS which commenced late last year will continue until April.

Please visit our dedicated industrial action Information for staff pages which provide information, guidance and support during this period.

Staff are required to record their participation through Staff Connect

PensionsPlus is a new way to make pension contributions to either USS or SAUL which reduces payment of National Insurance deductions, meaning you take home more pay than you would by contributing to your pension outside of PensionsPlus.

PensionsPlus will be launched on 1 February 2020.

A number of presentations and drop-in sessions have been arranged across the Canterbury and Medway campuses to provide staff with more information about PensionsPlus and the opportunity to ask questions. There is no need to book.

More information can be found on the PensionsPlus website.

This November, the University and College Union (UCU) announced its intention to launch industrial action in the form of a strike and action short of a strike (ASOS) as a part of its dispute relating to the national pay award. At the University of Kent, the strike action is scheduled to begin on 25 November and last eight days, ending on 4 December. The ASOS is scheduled to begin on the same day and continue until April.

Please visit our dedicated industrial action Information for staff pages which provide information, guidance and support during this period.

Staff are required to record their participation through Staff Connect

Please visit our dedicated Christmas Payroll Arrangements page, for all the information you need regarding cut-off dates for the December 2019 payroll.

Kent's Staff Survey is back!

On Wednesday 2nd October, the 2019 Staff Survey will be open for a period of 6 weeks for all staff to complete.

Don't miss your chance to have your say - Click here for more information and to take the survey now!

We are pleased to confirm a full introductory guide to the Academic Career Map (ACM) is now available, pulling together in one place all the framework content and guidance on how to use the ACM on a day-to-day basis.  It can be accessed here.

There is also separate guidance for using the ACM in promotion, available via the promotion pages on the HR website

We are pleased to confirm the following are now live and can be found on the A to Z of policies and procedures, or by clicking the links, below:

• Univeristy of Kent's Academic Career Map (ACM)
• Academic Promotion - policy and procedure (please note, for use for promotions in the academic year 2019-20)
• Transfer between academic contracts - policy and procedure

The Kent Voluntary Severance Scheme (KVSS) is being launched today, Monday 15 April 2019. You can find out more about the Scheme on our HR webpages.

Please note that the policies and procedures listed below have been updated with immediate effect:

Redeployment: Policy and procedure
Recruitment: Grades 1-10 procedure
Recruitment: Academic procedure (combined the All Lecturers, Readerships, Professorial procedures into one procedure)

Stonefish is live! All staff vacancies will now be advertised on a new system and a new look website.

Please note: To view and apply for internal only vacancies, you will need to use the Staff Login button which uses your University login details. Internal only vacancies will no longer be visible to external candidates.

This change is the final development in the second phase of Staff Connect, which aims to streamline our HR processes. Although this is part of the Staff Connect project, a separate software solution was selected as it is more tailored to the HE sector and presents a slicker, more intuitive, user interface which is in line with the Kent brand.

Recruitment support sessions for hiring managers are running throughout March and April and our resourcing web pages have been updated with the new guidance.