Broadcast: News items

PS Essentials - November 2024

Posted on behalf of: Internal Communications

Last updated: Monday, 11 November 2024

PS Essentials highlights the key priorities for Professional Services colleagues and recent news you and your teams may find useful. Please take five minutes to read the full PS Essentials below.

If there is information you would like included in a future edition of PS Essentials, please email the Internal Comms team at: internalcomms@sussex.ac.uk.

Quick links

About you

Workplace adjustments toolkit for staff and managers

Workplace adjustments remove or reduce barriers a staff member may be facing, enabling them to do their job and fulfil their potential. Find out about the University’s updated Workplace Adjustment Toolkit which provides guidance for staff and managers. The toolkit outlines how to arrange, implement, change and review adjustments and includes further useful information and guidance for staff.

Covid-19 vaccinations and lateral flow tests

The winter season can bring more frequent cold, flu and Covid-19 infections. The NHS provides useful guidance on how to keep well in winter and how to avoid catching and spreading Covid-19.

The University is no longer reimbursing staff for Covid-19 lateral flow tests. Those with health conditions that mean they are vulnerable are still able to receive free Covid-19 vaccinations from the NHS, and lateral flow tests are readily available to buy through many retailers, including on campus at the pharmacy.

The latest information on Covid-19 arrangements at the University, including how to request a review of building ventilation, is available on the Health & Safety Covid-19 webpage.

Flu vaccinations for staff

If you are eligible for a free flu vaccine through your GP or NHS, we encourage you to use that service. As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting staff health and wellbeing, you may claim reimbursement for the cost of flu vaccination by a third-party provider if you are not eligible.

Please choose the most cost-effective option when booking your flu vaccination as prices can vary widely. You can pay for it directly using a University Purchasing Card if you have one - or pay for it and then reclaim the cost through the Out of Pocket Expenses process - charging to sub-project code EM003-01 and expense type ‘staff wellbeing’. Please note that you must attach the proof of purchase (i.e. receipt) to the Purchasing Card reconciliation or expense claim.

Pay award reminder

The first part of this year’s pay award has now been implemented, with backdated payments to 1 August 2024 having been paid in October’s pay. Full details of the new salary scales are available on the HR pages of the website. As a reminder:

The pay increase will be made in two stages. Effective from 1 August 2024 all colleagues have received an uplift to their annual salary of £900. Then from 1 March 2025:

Spine points 12 to 22 receive a further £300 annual uplift (totalling £1,200 and resulting in a 5.2% uplift for pay point 12 tapering to 4.1% at pay point 22 from 1 March 2025)
Spine points 23 to 37 receive a further £250 annual uplift (totalling £1,150 and resulting in a 3.8% uplift for pay point 23 tapering to 2.52% at pay point 37 from 1 March 2025)
Spine points 38 upwards receive an annual sum (variable by pay point) which results in a total uplift of 2.5%

Microsoft Bookings now available for diary management

Microsoft Bookings is now available for all staff and students as part of our Microsoft 365 suite. This is an add-on to your existing Outlook and Teams calendars that lets you easily share your availability with others, including external contacts. This can help reduce back and forth conversations about your availability. Features include:

people can book meetings directly into your diary while following clear rules e.g. Wednesday afternoon only, 15-minute slots, leaving five minutes free either side of booking
option to send automatic appointment reminders
option to send automatic feedback requests after meetings

To set up your Microsoft Bookings Page and for more information read the Microsoft Bookings Guide.

Leader and Manager Essentials programme refreshed

Our updated Leader and Manager Essentials programme was launched in October for staff who are new to the role of people leader, aspire to lead or would like to refresh their skills and knowledge. Updated in line with the new Sussex Leader and Manager Competency Framework, the programme equips staff with the tools and techniques to lead effectively, supporting their leadership development journey.

About Professional Services

Be part of our winter graduation on 22-24 January 2025

Winter graduation is an important moment in the University calendar and we encourage you to get involved to help make the event a success. Working at graduation provides an excellent opportunity to help our students and their loved ones celebrate their achievements. For those new to Sussex, graduation is also an opportunity to meet people from across the University and learn more about what we do for graduating students. You will receive a full briefing and tour of the venue and colleagues will be on hand to answer your questions. Please contact the Graduation team at graduation@sussex.ac.uk if you have any queries.

Student debt update

The small number of students who have not yet paid their termly tuition fee and rental (accommodation) fee instalments which were due in October will start having sanctions applied from next week. Sanctions for unpaid tuition fees include the suspension of IT and Library services, and ultimately withdrawal from the University. Students who do not pay their rental fees will be given notice and will need to leave their accommodation. Affected students have been contacted directly.

Giving consideration to the wellbeing of our students and supporting them to continue with their academic studies and achieve the academic outcomes they have worked for is at the forefront of all planning. View the most recent briefing information which explains what will be happening and how staff can help students. The briefing is designed to help staff understand how we are supporting students through the process.

Sharing your views with Senate

The next Senate meeting is coming up this week, on Wednesday 13 November, and the agenda, minutes and papers are available on Sussex Direct. Senate is the highest academic committee in the University, overseeing quality assurance and standards of the education provided by the University and the PS voice is a vital part of the discussion.

Two elected senators, Gemma Harman and Kit Eves, act as spokespeople for PS staff, representing your needs and interests. Please contact Kit at ce79@sussex.ac.uk or Gemma at g.harman@sussex.ac.uk in confidence if there is a matter you would like them to raise at Senate. You can also email the general email inbox: pssenators@sussex.ac.uk.

Senate meets termly, and you can view information about past and future meetings.

Library to celebrate 60th birthday

The Library building celebrates its 60th birthday this month, having been officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 13 November 1964. Chapter 60, an exhibition of images and artefacts celebrating the Library's role on campus, will be on display in the Library's Open Learning Space from 13 November to 20 December.

Open to all staff and students, Chapter 60 will feature images that showcase the evolving nature of the building and its users throughout the decades, sourced by the Library Operations Team in collaboration with Special Collections at The Keep. Other exhibits will include a multimedia feature and a display of classic furniture.

CINECITY is on campus until 17 November

Every November, CINECITY brings the best in world cinema to Brighton & Hove, with a festival programme of premieres and previews, treasures from the archive, live soundtracks, talks and special events. We're delighted to be screening 11 events on our new state-of-the art cinema screen at the Attenborough Centre (ACCA) this month. The festival runs from 8-17 November and ACCA is joining other venues in Brighton, Hove and Lewes to host CINECITY screenings. For further details of the films showing and to buy tickets visit the ACCA website. The ACCA is part of the new Division of Library, Culture and Heritage which also includes The Keep and the Library.

Read the latest Transforming Sussex newsletter

The October edition of Transforming Sussex is now available, featuring news from across the Capital Programme and beyond, including:

the Relish bagel van project supporting the Down Syndrome Development Trust (DSDT)
what we’re doing to improve recycling rates on campus
how Cloud projects are helping to improve the resilience, stability and flexibility of our computer systems.

Stay up to date by signing up to our mailing list to receive future issues of the newsletter directly to your inbox.

Coming up

PS Open Forum (4 December)

We will be holding a PS Open Forum, chaired by Emma Potts, on Wednesday 4 December from 3pm-4.15pm in person in the Terrace Room at Bramber House and online. Please register if you would like to attend in person - registration is not needed if joining online, use the Zoom link in your Outlook calendar invitation. Submit questions or issues for discussion in advance in the registration link or by emailing us at internalcomms@sussex.ac.uk. We will try to cover the key topics raised in advance on the day, and there will also be time for live questions. Remember, you can see the recording of, and answers from, the last session on the Staff Hub.