19. SPECIAL LEAVE

i. Leave for Examinations

Leave of absence with pay will be granted to employees for the purpose of sitting for examinations applicable to their employment with the University. Up to one day's paid leave may also be granted per examination paper up to a maximum of 5 days for the purpose of final revision in the period preceding examination.

ii. Leave of Absence - Service in Non Regular Forces

The University endorses the principle that volunteer members of Non-Regular Forces who attend annual camp should be granted leave additional to their normal annual leave. Employees will be granted two weeks additional leave entitlement with pay for this purpose.

Employees are requested to endeavour to ensure alternative dates are available to ensure mutually convenient dates of absence can be agreed.

iii. Leave for Jury Service

An employee receiving a summons to service on a jury must report the fact to his/her Director of School/Service, who shall grant leave of absence thereof unless exemption is secured.

An employee serving as a juror shall claim the allowance for loss of earnings to which he is entitled under the Jurors allowances Regulation currently in force. The University shall then deduct from the employee's full pay an amount equal to the allowance received.

iv. Time off for Medical Screening

Necessary paid time off shall be granted to employees for the purpose of being screened for breast and cervical cancer.

v. Paid Compassionate Leave

Any requests for compassionate leave should be made to the Director of Personnel. Leave on compassionate grounds will be considered for a period not exceeding three days, and in exceptional circumstances, exceeding three days, but not exceeding five days.

In the case of bereavement, the following minimum provision shall be applied by the University, in consultation with the Director of Personnel:-

1. Where the deceased person is the spouse or an immediate relative (i.e. husband or wife, son or daughter, sister or brother, father or mother), a minimum of three days paid leave shall be granted, and
2. Where the deceased person is some other relative, a minimum of half a days paid leave shall be granted.
3. Directors of School/Heads of Service should allow reasonable requests for holiday/flexi-leave to be taken in order for employees to attend the funeral of close friends that are not covered within (i) and (ii).

vi. Leave of absence for prospective Parliamentary Candidates

Prospective Parliamentary candidates will be granted a maximum of fifteen working days paid leave of absence during the course of their election campaigns.

vii. Time off for Public Duties

Consideration will be given to time off for public duties as specified under section 29 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978. Employees holding public positions such as follows are entitled to reasonable time off:-

Justices of the Peace

Members of local authorities

Members of statutory tribunals

Members of governing bodies

Time off required to perform the duties as a whole and how much for the particular duty in question

How much time the employee has already had off for public duties.

The circumstances of the employer's business and the effect of the employee's absence upon the running of the University.

Prepared for WWW by laurie.fenwick@sunderland.ac.uk

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