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Birkbeck resources for staff

Birkbeck aims to provide a welcoming, flexible and inclusive environment for staff and students.

BIRKBECK SOURCES OF SUPPORT FOR STAFF

An EAP is a confidential employee benefit designed to help you deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life or work life, health and general wellbeing. Our EAP service provides a complete support network that offers expert advice and compassionate guidance, covering a wide range of issues. Visit our Employee Assistance Programme Sharepoint page for more information (staff only).

Family-friendly initiatives

The College offers employees a comprehensive package of family-friendly benefits.   

Maternity leave and pay

  • All members of staff who are due to give birth are entitled to a total of 52 weeks of maternity leave, regardless of the length of service. This consists of ordinary maternity leave (OML) for 26 weeks followed by 26 weeks of additional maternity leave (AML).
  • Members of staff with at least 26 weeks’ of continuous service with Birkbeck by the Qualifying Week receive paid maternity leave, including 26 weeks' full pay during OML. This occupational payment is subject to a requirement that the member of staff returns to employment at the end of their leave period for at least 12 weeks. Further information is contained in the Family Leave Policy. 

Shared parental leave and pay

  • Since 2015, the College has offered shared parental leave and pay (subject to qualifying conditions) to birthing or adoptive parents. 
  • Shared parental leave enables parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave if they share the main responsibility for the care of the child. 
  • Further information is contained in the Family Leave Policy and guidance can be obtained by contacting an HR Partner/Officer. 

Paternity leave and pay

  • Employees who are biological or adoptive parents are entitled to two weeks' paternity leave and pay (subject to qualifying conditions). If a member of staff qualifies for statutory paternity pay (SPP), the College will enhance the SPP to 100% of the employee’s usual rate of pay.

Adoption leave and pay

  • The College offers members of staff who are adopting a child adoption leave and pay, subject to qualifying conditions. Eligible staff, who meet the qualifying criteria for statutory adoption pay (SAP) and intend to return to work after adoption leave, benefit from the College’s Occupational Adoption Payments, including 26 weeks’ full pay. 
  • Further information is contained in the College’s Family Leave Policy. 

Keeping In Touch (KIT) Days

  • An employee may, with the agreement of their manager, carry out up to 10 days' work during maternity leave or adoption leave, without bringing the leave to an end or losing any benefits. During shared parental leave, up to 20 days can be taken by each parent in addition to any KIT days taken during maternity or adoption leave. 
  • KIT days enable staff to keep in touch and keep up to date with developments at work. 
  • Payment for KIT days is at a member of staff’s normal rate of pay for the hours worked. 
  • Further information is contained in the College’s Family Leave Policy. 

Childcare Vouchers

Flexible working

  • Birkbeck recognises that many employees may have personal responsibilities and obligations in addition to their work responsibilities. Bearing in mind the College’s commitment to equality, the policy on flexible working arrangements for College staff has been developed with the intention of helping members of staff to balance their commitments and interests outside work with their work.  
  • Flexible arrangements offered to members of staff under this policy cover a wide range of options, including part-time, job-share, homeworking, partial home working and staggered hours or flexi-time. 
  • Further information is contained in the College’s Flexible Working Policy. 

Career development

Personal and professional development

Career progress and development review

  • An institution-wide Progress and Development Review framework operates across the institution to support staff in reviewing and developing their careers and identifying professional goals. This framework is targeted at Research, Professional and Support Staff groups.
  • In 2015, a pilot Academic Review programme was launched across the College to support academic staff in reviewing their career progression. 

TRIGGER - Transforming Institutions by Gendering Contents and Gaining Equality in Research

  • Staff at Birkbeck are championing the role of female academics in scientific subjects as part of TRIGGER, a European project across five countries (Czech Rep., France, Italy, Spain and the UK). 
  • The initiative involves testing a blueprint designed to raise the status of women in scientific and technological organisations. There is a particular focus on encouraging women during the early stages of their scientific careers. 

External Fellowships and Awards

L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science

  • L'Oréal-UNESCO's For Women in Science programme recognises the achievements and contributions of exceptional women across the globe, by awarding promising scientists Fellowships to help further their research. 
  • The L'Oréal-UNESCO UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women In Science are awards offered by a partnership between L'Oréal UK & Ireland, the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society, to promote, enhance and encourage the contribution of women pursuing their research careers in the UK or Ireland in the fields of the life and physical sciences.

Royal Society Rosalind Franklin award

  • The Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award is awarded annually for an outstanding contribution to any area of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). 
  • The recipient of the award is expected to spend a proportion of the grant on implementing a project to raise the profile of women in STEM in their host institution and/or field of expertise in the UK.

Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships

  • Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships are for scientists at an early stage of their research career who need a flexible working pattern because of personal circumstances, such as parental or caring responsibilities or health problems. Female candidates are particularly invited to apply.

Daphne Jackson Fellowships

  • Daphne Jackson Fellowships are designed to return scientists, engineers and technologists to their careers after a break. The Fellowships are flexible and include a tailored training programme to allow reentry at the appropriate level.