Working hours

New Ways of Working

We recognise the importance of flexibility and will, where possible, manage the work patterns of staff to deliver effective service to colleagues and students whilst allowing them a healthy work/life balance that combines in-person working in the AWB with some remote online working. Our approach fits within the University's New Ways of Working framework, building on our experiences of the pandemic to continue to support the Mathematical Institute's teaching and research and to deliver team objectives.

Under these new ways of working we have agreed some shared principles:

• we will ensure that arrangements are fair for all, balancing requests against the operational need
• the frequency and pattern of working for support staff will be agreed upon in discussion, and recorded on the University's confirmation of change form  nwwconfirmationofchangeform.docx
• we ask all teams to clearly signpost how they can be contacted for support, using generic email, webpages and signature/door signs
• we encourage whole team meetings and regular contact hours to help and foster in-person engagement and interaction

POD offer a number of training resources to support remote working and managing hybrid teams; find more information here. 

Working hours

Staff in support grades 1-5 have a 36.5-hour working week, or 7.3 hours a day. Staff in academic-related grades 6-10 do not have set hours of work, but their notional hours are 37.5 a week, or 7.5 a day.

All staff need to take a minimum 30-minute lunch break each day and we urge you to take a longer break - and some time out of the building! - at least a couple of times a week. Lunch breaks should be factored into regular core working hours, noting that they are unpaid and in addition to the 7.3 or 7.5 hour working day.

We don't offer 'flexi-time' although we aim to support a good work-life balance and understand the need for working patterns to change occasionally, similarly there might be times that you are asked to alternate a pattern to help at work. Speak to your line manager in advance to agree arrangements if you need to leave early, or need to swap a home-working day. 

Flexible working

Aside from the New Ways of Working patterns, we have many staff with flexible arrangements including term-time only, part-time, and compressed hours. Short-term or minor changes to your hours may be managed under an informal flexible working application; any significant or permanent change is likley to require a flexible working application.

Flexible retirement

This option enables you to reduce your working hours and salary, while also accessing part payment of your pension benefits. If you are aged 55 or over, with at least two years of qualifying service in USS or OSPS, you may be eligible to apply - more information is available here. 

Overtime/TOIL

Staff in grades 1-5 are eligible for overtime. All overtime/TOIL is subject to there being an operational requirement and must be pre-approved by the line manager. There is no provision for grades 6 and up to accrue TOIL or take overtime, paid or otherwise. However, members of academic-related staff who are requested to work on Bank Holidays or fixed days of closure will be compensated by equivalent time off in lieu. The taking of TOIL should be reported on Team Seer and will be recorded as non-working hours.

Overseas Working

You might wish to spend a period of time working overseas; either during a period of sabbatical leave, as a requirement of your role or as a personal request - in each case approval needs to be sought from the Head of Department at least 60 days beforehand. Employing staff overseas is very complex and arrangements depend on the particulars of your case - we urge you to come and talk to the HR Team as soon as possible. There is extensive guidance on overseas working from the Finance Division and the central HR support pages. 

Outside Appointments

University academic and academic-related employees are permitted to hold outside appointments, including consultancies, with Head of Department approval - please see the departmental guidance here Outside Appointments and Conflict of Interest Policy.