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Last updated: 24th April 2024
Draft People Strategy Presentation (25/4/2024)
Below is the draft People Strategy presentation. A thank you to all who attended briefings and provided feedback. Your insight has been valuable and will help with further iterations of the strategy. Consultation will continue over the coming weeks and an updated version of the strategy will be provided on this page in the coming weeks.
Draft People Strategy Staffing Consultation
If you have any further feedback/questions please email Cattera2@hope.ac.uk
Advice for Managers Supporting Muslim staff during Ramadan
Muslim staff and students will be observing Ramadan (a period of prayer, fasting, reflection and community) between Sunday 10th March 2024 and 8th April 2024 (subject to confirmation, depending on the sighting of the moon).
It is important to remember that practice of the observance of Ramadan may vary between individuals due to health, travel and personal circumstances. Therefore any support given should be based on the staff member’s individual need and not assumed.
Fasting will start between 4.30 - 5:00am and end around 6.00 - 8:00pm (there are slight variations to the times each day as they align with the times of the sunrise and sunset). This means a Muslim who is fasting this year could go without food or water for over 14 hours a day. Fasting is also combined with disturbances in normal sleep pattern that can leave individuals feeling more tired than normal, particularly mid-afternoon and towards the end of the day. Also, towards the latter part of the day some individuals that are fasting might feel a little lightheaded.
An agreement to requests for slight adjustments to the working day during Ramadan will be appreciated by Muslim staff members. What is reasonable will differ from role to role. Examples, can include:
- Some Muslim staff members may wish to start earlier in the morning or have a shorter lunch break so that they can finish early. Managers are asked to accommodate this where at all possible and within reason.
- Staff fasting during Ramadan may wish to avoid peak travel times.
- The effects of fasting may be felt most strongly in the latter parts of the working day, so it can be helpful to use the earlier parts of the working day for meetings and more challenging work and save routine tasks for later in the day.
- For staff whose work involves physical activity or labour, the risk assessment for their work activities may require review to consider the impact of fatigue.
- Consideration of agile working (Agile Working Principles )
It is considerate to avoid scheduling staff social activities or working lunches during Ramadan.
Some Muslim staff members may endeavour to practice their faith more during Ramadan than they might for the remainder of the year. As a consequence of this, more Muslim staff might wish to offer prayers during the day. This will normally be around 1:00 - 5:00 pm in the summer months for a few minutes each.
Agile Working Launches 2023-24
New agile working principles have launched with effect from 16 October 2023.
National Pay Negotiations 2023-24
Staff will be aware that the 22/23 pay negotiations resulted in both UCU and Unison rejecting the pay award. As instructed due to the end of the dispute process via JNCHES the award was implemented.
Subsequently UCEA and the respective trade unions brought forward the 23/24 JNCHES process with the intention of bringing forward part of the pay award to February 23 with a second uplift in August. The JNCHES has led to ACAS involvement and remains ongoing. A joint statement was released by all parties.
We will continue to update the position when we have further information.
Local Government Pension Contribution Rates for 2022/2023
Visit the webpage for further information.
Teachers Pension Scheme Contribution Rates for 2023/2024
Visit the webpage for further information.
Sexual Misconduct
For further information, including reporting options and help and support resources please see our sexual misconduct webpages.