Employee reward and benefits
The University aims to encourage, support and recognise the excellent performance and behaviours of our employees.
We also aim to offer a range of benefits which make us stand out from our competitors to attract new, and retain existing, employees who can help us achieve the University's goals.
Annual leave
The annual leave years runs from 1 August to 31 July.
The basic annual leave entitlement is as follows (part-time employees receive a pro-rata entitlement):
| Grade | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| 1-6 | 152.25 hours / 21 days |
| 7-8 | 181.25 hours / 25 days |
| 9+ | 217.5 hours / 30 days |
Long service entitlement
Employees receive long-service entitlements of 1, 3 and 5 days following completion of 1, 3 and 5 full years service within a annual leave year (up to a total of 5 days):
Statutory bank holidays and customary days
In addition to annual leave and the 8 statutory bank holidays, the University has five customary days (at Easter and Christmas) each year.
My Sustain Rewards
My Sustain Rewards gives University of Bradford employees access to a range of discount vouchers and special offers on high-street shopping, restaurants, cinema, travel and day to day shopping. There are many ways to save through the scheme whether you like to shop in-store or online covering various areas of interest; from retail, leisure and fitness to entertainment, transport and holidays.
Salary Sacrifice Schemes
The idea of salary sacrifice/salary exchange schemes is very simple - the cost is deducted from your gross salary, which means you save on income tax, National Insurance and VAT, making the most of your salary.
Holiday purchase scheme
This benefit is a salary sacrifice scheme which has 3 open sessions in an annual leave year. The scheme allows eligible employees to request to purchase up to a maximum of 20 days (145 hours) additional holiday in a leave year and to spread the cost over 12, 8 or 4 months. If you work on a part-time basis this will be pro-rated based on the number of hours you are contracted to work.
Cycle to work
The Cycle to Work scheme allows you to hire a bike and safety equipment from your employer for the purpose of commuting to and from work and for use at weekends and evenings.
You can choose a bike up to the value of £1000 from local bike retailers or any Halfords store. The value of the bike is spread across a period of 12 months and each month the payment will be deducted from your gross salary. This element of salary will not have tax or national insurance applied to it, making this a tax-free benefit.
You do not pay tax or national insurance contributions on the value of the salary you sacrifice for this agreement.
Travel
Metro season ticket - Mcard (bus and train)
The University operates a scheme for staff to purchase a Mcard with a discount off the normal cost of an annual MetroCard and pay for it in 12 easy instalments directly out of your pay.
Metro have agreed this discount with the University in recognition of our efforts to promote sustainable travel choices and our commitment to developing and maintaining a travel plan.
Northern Rail season ticket (train)
This annual season ticket gives you travel on any train operators service between your two chosen stations. The University will purchase the ticket for you and deductions are made direct from your salary in nine monthly instalments.
First Bus Corporate Travel Club (bus)
A season ticket loan scheme giving you all the cost savings of an annual ticket along with simplicity of a monthly direct debit payment.
Healthcare
Simplyhealth
The Simply Cash Plan allows you to claim money back towards your healthcare costs including:
- 100% cash back on dental and optical bills, up to your annual limits
- 50% cash back for a range of recognised therapies, including physiotherapy and chiropractic, up to annual limits
- Up to four resident children, under 18 covered for free
Your premium can be deducted direct from your salary.
Sovereign Health Care
The Sovereign Health Care cash plan offers tax free cash back towards a range of everyday essential health care costs including:
- Dental treatment
- Glasses/contact lenses
- Physiotherapy
- Chiropody
- Reflexology
- Hospital stays
- Maternity/adoption
- Hospital consultant fees
- Health screening
Your premium can be deducted direct from your salary.
Nursery
The University Nursery was established in April 1992 and offers childcare to University of Bradford employees and students.
It provides excellent early years care and education for children from 12 weeks to 5 years. Rated ‘OUTSTANDING’ by Ofsted it offers an inclusive and diverse learning environment which is led by a team of fully qualified staff members.
The University Nursery fees are deducted from your Gross Salary which means you save on income tax and national insurance contributions, making the most of your salary.
Gym
The university has an on-site leisure and sports facility - Unique fitness & Lifestyle - offering discounted membership to all employees.
Car parking
The University offers on-site car parking at a competitive price.
On-site food and drink outlets
There are a number of food and drink outlets both on city campus and at the Emm Lane campus ranging from restaurants to coffee bars.
Blackwells Bookshop
Our on-site bookshop in the atrium of the Richmond building offers a 10% staff discount on all its products (excluding laptops and tablets).
Please note: this offer does not run in conjunction with any other offers. Staff will receive whichever discount is the highest.
BUStA
The Bradford University Staff Association (BUStA) organises social events and industrial visits to members. To read more online about BUStA, and how to become a member please visit the BUStA web page.
Flexible working
The right to request flexible working applies to all University employees who meet the qualifying criteria of 26 weeks continuous service at the date a written request is made.
Flexitime scheme
The flexitime scheme is open to staff on Grades 1 to 6 and its operation is dependent upon the nature and requirements of the role, as determined by the Dean/Director or nominated Manager.
The scheme works within monthly periods. Within each period the number of contracted hours is based upon the standard working week of 36 hours 15 minutes Monday to Friday. At the end of each month, 7 hours 15 minutes credit or debit can be carried into the next period. With approval one day or two half-days leave can be taken during each month.
Job share policy
The University will normally agree to a job share where it is reasonable and practicable to do so and where operational needs will not be adversely affected.
Family friendly
We have a range of policies to support our staff to balance work life with home and family life, many of which provide enhanced benefits over and above our statutory obligations.
Adoption leave
Staff are entitled to up to one years Adoption Leave and may qualify for University adoption pay.
Maternity leave
You will qualify for University maternity pay if you have been continuously employed by the University for 12 months before the expected birth of your baby, and you intend to return to work at the University following maternity leave for a minimum of three months.
University maternity pay is the equivalent of 16-weeks full pay, which usually comprises:
- six weeks on full pay (includes statutory maternity pay (SMP) payments)
- 20 weeks on half pay plus SMP up to a maximum of normal pay
- 13 weeks on SMP
Paternity leave
Fathers can benefit from two weeks full pay during paternity leave.
Parental leave
Parental leave is the right to take unpaid time off work to look after a child or make arrangements for the child's welfare.
Shared parental leave
Shared Parental Leave provides eligible employees with the opportunity to take advantage of additional flexibility in the way they choose to share the care of their child during the first year of birth or adoption.
Bereavement leave
Bereavement leave with pay up to five days may be requested by a member of staff to deal with the effects of a death, including making funeral arrangements and attending the funeral.
Dependants leave
The University may grant time off at short notice to deal with unexpected emergencies involving a dependant.
Special discretionary leave
Consideration will be given to requests from members of staff for short periods of paid and/or unpaid leave in circumstances which are not covered by other provisions.