The typical rate of sick pay entitlement (in full-time weeks) provided in the HE sector (increasing with years of service) far exceeds UK statutory sick pay.
Sickness pay entitlement
Benefits of working in Higher Education
Staff working within the Higher Education sector are entitled to some often overlooked excellent benefits and conditions
The University of Oxford’s policy on maternity and adoption leave and pay is one of the most generous in UK higher education. Eligible parents are entitled to up to 26 weeks leave at the rate of full pay, followed by up to 13 weeks at the rate of statutory pay and 13 weeks unpaid leave. There are similarly enhanced benefits for Shared Parental leave.
Find out more about the University’s Family Leave scheme.
Proportion of employers offering maternity/paternity pay above the statutory entitlement.
We offer an enhanced entitlement to 38 days’ annual leave per year (pro-rata for part-time staff), inclusive of bank holidays and fixed closure days. Additional long service leave is available after 5 years’ service. An additional scheme, enables staff to request to purchase up to ten additional days’ annual leave in each holiday year.
Median holiday entitlement comparison
Employee benefits include salary sacrifice where National Insurance contributions reduce, resulting in an increase in take-home pay for individuals and cost-savings for the University. In the Higher Education sector this include childcare vouchers, pensions and cycle to work schemes.
Salary sacrifice comparison
There have been significant increases in employer pension contributions and Higher Education employer contributions continue to rise.
Pensions: how much do employers contribute?
