Queen's University Belfast: Support for staff on maternity/adoption leave

In 2013 the School implemented a new maternity/adoption leave policy to ensure full ten-month coverage. A temporary position is advertised as soon as a woman reports pregnancy rather than waiting until the mandatory 26 weeks when they can apply for the university's Maternity Cover Fund, thereby giving the replacement more time and prevent burdening other staff with extra work. The School covers costs above that received from the Maternity Cover Fund, which provides only 18 weeks full time replacement. This important development enables the academic staff member to know her workload is fully covered and reduces any backlog of work when the woman returns. On return to work the woman meets with the Head of School to discuss her career. The policy stipulates no teaching in her first semester back and a reduced administrative load for the first year to facilitate focus on research profile. The policy also applies to a male or female member of staff going on adoption leave.