Employment Relationships at the University of Sheffield
Introduction
The University needs to ensure that it applies appropriate rules of engagement for anyone undertaking work on the University's behalf. This is not only to provide a fair and equitable framework for all its workers as a responsible employer, but also to comply with legal and other obligations, whilst at the same time maintaining sufficent flexibility to enable the delivery of individual, departmental/faculty and corporate needs.
In its broadest sense, all individuals that undertake work activity for the University of Sheffield should belong to one of the following employment status groups:
- Open-ended employee
- Fixed Term employee
- Worker, e.g. with a ‘Registration Agreement for the University Bank’
- Self Employed / Agreement for Service(s)
- Agency Worker.
Please see Determining Employment Status for more information on each group.
The type of contract or agreement offered will depend upon the details of the individual employment relationship and the subsequent effect that this has in legislative terms. However the University's aim is wherever possible, to reduce the number of fixed term contracts and casual worker agreements and limit their use in the future. For this reason an open-ended employee contract should in the first instance be considered as to its appropriateness for all new University engagements.
'Casual' or 'Atypical' Relationships
A Management Toolkit has been developed to support Departmental Heads and Managers in making appropriate decisions on the employment status of any individual undertaking work within their department, and the appropriate management of individuals thereafter. This includes guidance on the engagements of workers with a 'Registration Agreement for the University Bank' which should provide departments with the flexibility to cover for short term and ad-hoc work.
Engaging someone as a worker from the 'University Bank' for example means that they do not have the same employment rights or University benefits as a UoS employee, and in return, departments do not have the same 'ability to manage' the individual.
It is important to understand that 'casual' engagements are not a 'quick fix' for avoiding the recruitment and employment of University of Sheffield employees, and the University Bank should only be used under appropriate circumstances; please see Management Toolkit for more information.