Requests for continuous and discontinuous periods of SPL need to be responded to in different ways.
Responding to requests for continuous leave
All notices for continuous leave must be granted and should be confirmed in writing by the department, using the pro-forma on the right-hand side.
The leave cannot start earlier than eight weeks from the date the original notification was submitted.
Responding to requests for discontinuous leave
Any requests for discontinuous leave should be carefully considered (within 14 days of receiving the notice) in light of the advantages to the employee and the University, as well as any potentially negative operational impact on the department. Every request for discontinuous leave should be considered on a case-by-case basis, and approval should not be unreasonably withheld. Departments should discuss the proposed SPL informally with the employee before confirming a decision in writing. It is open to them, after fair deliberation, to propose a different pattern of leave to the employee. Where agreement cannot be reached or where there are any concerns, the department should contact their HR Business Partner for advice.
At the end of the 14-day discussion period the department should confirm any agreed arrangements in writing. If agreement has not been reached, the employee will be entitled to take the full amount of requested SPL as one continuous block, starting on the start date given in the notice (for example, if the employee has requested three separate periods of four weeks each, they will be combined into one 12-week period of leave).
Alternatively, the employee may:
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choose a new start date, which must be at least eight weeks after the original period of leave notice was given. The employee should tell the University the new start date within five days of the end of the two-week discussion period; or
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withdraw his/her period of leave notice within two days of the end of the two-week discussion period, in which case it will not be counted and a new notice may be submitted.
The leave cannot start earlier than eight weeks from the date the original notification was submitted. If the employee does not choose/cannot agree on a start date then the leave will commence on the date they originally requested.
Notifying payroll and updating PeopleXD
Copies of all the completed and signed SPL notification forms including the maternity curtailment notice (where the mother is a University employee), notice of entitlement, notice to book leave and the payroll form need to be sent to the Payroll team via internal mail. Alternatively, departments may scan the completed and signed forms and then email them.
The Payroll team will review the forms to ensure that they are filled in accurately and fully. Payroll will then contact the employing department to confirm the receipt and accuracy of the forms. Once the details have been confirmed, the employing department will need to update PeopleXD accordingly, by reference to the relevant guidance.
