We’d like to highlight some updates to the University Family Friendly Policies which are important to note. For an overview read the NU Connections article.

A summary of the enhancements and new provisions are as follows: 

• De-coupled our maternity/adoption policy into two separate policies and, following a consultation with adoptive parents, rewritten the  Adoption Policy to make it more flexible and fit for purpose. 
• Introduced a 2-week bereavement leave provision within our   Maternity/Pregnancy policy and   Paternity/Partner policy for colleagues who sadly suffer a miscarriage within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.
• Introduced a Family Time policy with provision for foster carers (up to eight days’ paid leave in a 12-month period), colleagues and partners undergoing fertility treatment/assisted conception (paid time off for up to 10 appointments in a 12-month period) and time off for grandparents (one week unpaid leave every time there is a new addition to the family).
• We have also taken the opportunity to update our Maternity Toolkit and Adoption Toolkit with checklists, FAQs and timelines so as to better support both colleagues going through these processes and their line managers.