Human
Resources
Voluntary Severance Scheme:
Principles for Part-time Re-engagement following
Voluntary Severance
Background
1. Requests made to Remuneration Committee under the Voluntary Severance Scheme (VSS)
may include a clause that the staff member undertakes part-time work after the date of the
VSS. This would typically be to support teaching out students part way through their course
or complete a research project. This can be handled under one of the following contractual
arrangements:
re-engagements on a fractional basis;
engagement on a part-time hourly basis at the appropriate rate of pay: contracts for this
are normally on a semester or annual basis and the normal arrangements for such
appointments apply.
2. The application of the contractual arrangements for both forms of re-engagement needs to
be reviewed because of changes in employment legislation and evidence of inconsistencies
across the University.
The following proposals seek to set out the principles by which appointments must be made
following VSS.
Fractional Appointments
3. Fractional re-engagements are made subject to the following:
a) that the Dean of School approves the need for continued part-time working following VSS
and that the full cost can be met from the School's approved budget;
b) that the costs of the re-engagement have been factored in to the costs of the VSS and
that Remuneration Committee approve it on the basis of it being in the managerial
interests;
c) that RSA approval is obtained to ensure that the budgetary arrangements are recorded.
4. Contracts will normally be for a period of 12 months but will be for a maximum total period
of two years.
5. Normally re-engagement of staff will be on no more than 0.2 per year (equivalent to 1 day
per week) basis.
6. The new contract will include a statement of the main terms and conditions of the
appointment including a brief description of the duties involved.
7. Previous continuous service is deemed to end at the date of VSS: continuous service under
a fractional re-engagement will start on the appointment date under the new contract. There
will be at least a one month break in service before the new contract can take effect
following the date of the VSS.
8. Staff who have taken VSS without a re-engagement contract cannot be re-employed on a
fractional contract for the foreseeable future.
9. Academic Staff
Staff employed on a fractional appointment will normally be expected to undertake
a proportionate scheduled teaching and examining load of contact hours: in
approved exceptional cases duties may involve research activities and
departmental administration to give an equivalent total load.
Salary under such arrangements will normally be at the appropriate pro rata rate
for Lecturer grade 9 (or at the salary rate of the individual at the point of the VSS if
this is lower) and at a maximum of the grade 10 salary. Salaries will be
increased in line with inflationary pay increases.
10. Other Staff:
Duties to be undertaken, and the working arrangements, will be as agreed with
the Dean/Director.
Salary under these arrangements will be pro-rata to the appropriate rate for the
level of responsibility involved by reference to normal grading criteria, at the
maximum salary of grade 10: this will be determined by the Dean or Director, in
consultation with HR, as necessary. Salaries will be increased in line with
inflationary pay increases.
Hourly Paid Appointments
11. Hourly paid appointments are made subject to the following:
a) that the Dean of School/Director approves the need for continued part-time working
following early retirement and that the full cost can be met from the School's approved
budget;
b) that the costs of the re-engagement have been factored in to the costs of the VSS and
that Remuneration Committee approve it on the basis of it being in the managerial
interests;
12. Contracts will normally be for a period of 12 months but will be for a maximum total period
of three years.
13. Engagement of staff will be on no more than a total of 96 hours per annum.
14. Previous continuous service is deemed to end at the date of VSS: continuous service under
a part time hourly paid appointment will start on the appointment date under the new
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contract. There will be at least a one month break in service before the new contract can
take effect following the date of the VSS.
15. The terms and conditions of appointment will follow the normal terms for hourly paid staff.
16. Agreed by Remuneration Committee March 2009. To be reviewed March 2012.
The above principles apply to staff who left the employment of the University on Voluntary
Redundancy/Premature Retirement terms.
Janet Jones
Revised September 2009
Approved by Council 1 April 2009
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