Employment Relationships at the University of Sheffield
Introduction
The University needs to ensure that it applies appropriate rules of engagement for anyone undertaking work on the University's behalf. This is not only to provide a fair and equitable framework for all its workers as a responsible employer, but also to comply with legal and other obligations, whilst at the same time maintaining sufficent flexibility to enable the delivery of individual, departmental/faculty and corporate needs.
In its broadest sense, all individuals that undertake work activity for the University of Sheffield should belong to one of the following employment status groups:
- Open-ended employee
- Fixed Term employee
- Worker, eg with a ‘Registration Agreement for the University Bank’
- Self Employed / Agreement for Service(s)
- Agency Worker.
Please click on 'Employment Status' above for more information on each group. Some of the above employment status groups (eg the Registration Agreement for the University Bank) are new and for individuals who do not currently fall within one of the above groups, during 2008/09 their employment status will be reviewed and regularised. See below and right for more details.
The type of contract or agreement offered will depend upon the details of the individual employment relationship and the subsequent effect that this has in legislative terms. However the University´s aim is wherever possible, to reduce the number of fixed term contracts and casual worker agreements and limit their use in the future. For this reason an open-ended employee contract should in the first instance be considered as to its appropriateness for all new University engagements.
'Casual' or 'Atypical' Relationships
A 'Management Toolkit' (see right hand link) has been developed to support Departmental Heads and Managers in making appropriate decisions on the employment status of any individual undertaking work within their department, and the appropriate management of individuals thereafter. This includes guidance on the engagements of workers with a 'Registration Agreement for the University Bank' which should provide departments with the flexibility to cover for short term and ad-hoc work. This is a new arrangement for engaging 'atypical' or 'casual' workers - see below and the right hand link on 'Engaging Atypical Workers' for further details.
Engaging someone as a worker from the `University Bank´ for example means that they do not have the same employment rights or University benefits as a UoS employee, and in return, departments do not have the same `ability to manage' the individual.
It is important to understand that `casual´ engagements are not a `quick fix´ for avoiding the recruitment and employment of University of Sheffield employees, and the University Bank should only be used under appropriate circumstances; click on the right hand link to the Management Toolkit for more information.
Regularisation of Atypical Workers (Hourly Paid Teachers and other Casuals) Project
Beginning in the academic year 2007/2008 employment status will be reviewed for individuals undertaking work for the University of Sheffield on an hourly paid/atypical basis, and for some individuals this will result in employment status being regularised within a collectively agreed University of Sheffield framework. For more information see the 'Guidance on Regularisation' link.
Engaging New Atypical Workers - New Procedures from September 2008
Departments engaging new atypical workers for the academic year 2008/2009 (ie those working for the University not employed on University terms and conditions) must follow new procedures, including arrangements for pay.
These procedures should be used for all newly engaged workers and those already regularised (eg as a University Bank Worker). For more information see the 'Engaging New Atypical Workers' link.
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