• Information about the University's annual leave allowance

If you hold an academic or research only post, please complete this form to request/log annual leave and absence for university work purposes.

If you are professional services staff, please request annual leave via the ITS Leave Planner

Please see Booking rooms and catering

SEEDs core hours policy is applicable to all staff, including PGR students in their role as Teaching Assistants.

• Read the SEED Core Hours policy (May 2024)

Summary

• Where practicable all Departments and Professional Services (PS) teams will adopt a core hour policy of 10am-4pm. All ‘Core’ activities (as defined below) should be arranged to take place within this period.
• Where activities that are not ‘Core’, organisers should still endeavour to promote inclusivity insofar as is practicable, including checking participant availability prior to setting a time and date.

Visit the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion page for recommended actions you can take to help us establish an inclusive culture in SEED.  

Read the University guidance on communicating well over email. 

Read the SEED guidance on sending emails, Teams messaging and work-life balance.

Summary

• It is considered best practice that communications are not sent early in the morning or in the evenings (before 08:00 or after 18.00), on weekends or on public holidays.
• Emails are expected to be responded to in a timely manner, but unless previously discussed and agreed, e.g. with a line manager, there is no need to respond to them “out of hours”. There should also not be a need for an individual to respond immediately during core working hours unless the issue is urgent.

Under the University’s Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy, all gifts and hospitality valued at over £25 must be declared. Complete this form to make a declaration.  

Requests for IT hardware and DSE assessment

As standard, staff should have a laptop, riser, mouse, keyboard and USB Hub. SEED staff can request computer hardware and peripherals (including laptops, mice, keyboards) via the SEED Staff Computer Hardware Request Form. 

All new starters, and those that have had a significant change to their work location or equipment should complete the Display Screen Equipment Self Assessment Form. Hybrid workers should complete one form for their on campus work station and one form for their home work station. If the DSE form indicates new equipment is required, the SEED Compliance, Safety and Estates team will contact you to arrange an equipment loan. 

Laptop loans

The SEED School Operations Team has a small number of laptops (five Windows and one Apple Mac) available to be loaned out on a temporary basis when required, subject to availability.

Laptop loan requests must be made by SEED staff members (they can be requested on behalf of others i.e. new starters, work experience students). It is the responsibility of the staff member who made the request to ensure that the laptop is in a good condition and ensure the laptop is returned on the agreed date.

Why laptops may be loaned

• New starter - a loan laptop can help support a new starter get up and running on their University account if their new IT is not ready for their first day.
• Broken laptop
• Student visiting for a short period for work experience
• Events/workshops
• CARA Fellows

How to request a loan laptop 

SEED Staff members should submit a request via this Microsoft online form: SEED Laptop Loan Form 

You will be asked to provide a start and end date of the loan period.  

Once the form has been submitted, it will be checked by a member of the School Operations team, after this you will receive an email either approving or rejecting the request.  

Please ensure that you return the loan laptop by the end date provided. 

Should you have any questions, please contact seedschooloffice@manchester.ac.uk.

Visit the Meetings and Committees page for details of school-level meetings and committees, their membership, remit, and meeting frequency, and accompanying papers as appropriate.

All SEED staff are invited to attend the School Board. 

Inclusivity

Meetings should be designed to be inclusive from the outset, and ideally take place within core working hours (10am-4pm). The SEED Inclusive Meeting Guidance (2024) should be read in conjunction with the University values as the collegiate behaviour of all colleagues is integral to a positive working environment. Consideration should also be given to hybrid meetings, noting that for these to work effectively to ensure that all attendees can participate equally, the correct technology is required.

Related page: 

• Booking rooms and catering

The School has guidance for PS staff who work in open-plan areas across our buildings.

This includes guidance to:

• Keep noise to a minimum, and hold confidential conversations in a closed space.
• Use appropriate specialist equipment as necessary for occupational health.
• Keep items secure. 
• Consider colleagues when cooking and eating food in close proximity, and avoid strong-smells. 
• Keep working areas clear of unnecessary paper and belongings, and clean. 
• Take regular breaks but remain professional when at your desk and workplace. 

Please visit our dedicated page for more information on Support for those with caring responsibilities

Find out about how to reclaim your business expenses, arrange for invoices to be paid by the University or information about all other available payment routes and their necessary approval processes at Payment Types and Approvals.

Visit the PDR pages for guidance, and templates for Performance Development Reviews.

Visit the Talent Development section of StaffNet for professional development guidance and resources. 

Policies

• SEED Core Hours policy (May 2024)
• SEED conference caregiving policy
• SEED Sustainable Travel Policy (2023)
• SEED Academic Probation Requirements - (including T&S, T&R and Presidential Fellows)
• SEED Fieldwork Policy (2024)
• SEED PGR Study Space Policy 2024/25

Guidance

• SEED guidance on sending emails, Teams messaging and work-life balance (May 2024)
• SEED Inclusive Meeting Guidance (August 2024)
• SEED Guidelines for Working in Open Plan Areas (March 2014)
• SEED Ethics Online Template Guidance Notes (June 2024)
• SEED Strategy for Generative AI in Teaching and Assessment (August 2025)

There is a process and support for staff to provide consultancy through the University, which can be found here. Permission for consultancy work undertaken through the University will be sought by the Consultancy Services Team. 

Under the University’s Work for Outside Bodies Policy, all staff who are Grade 6 or above must disclose and gain permission for any work outside the University – this includes private consultancy. Grades 1-5 are also bound by the policy if they undertake work which may create a potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest or which may affect their ability to fulfil their University role. Request permission to undertake external work using this form. 

Once permission for outside work has been granted, don’t forget to declare this on the Register of Interests. 

Annually, all staff grade 6 or above will be reminded to complete a return for the Register of Interests, even if they are submitting a nil return.

You are encouraged to lock your belongings away in lockers or pedestals which have been provided for you, and when not in your office to lock your office door. 

In the case of emergency, call security on 0161 306 9966 - this number can be found on the back of your Staff ID card.

All staff and students are encouraged to download our SafeZone mobile app, designed to help keep you safe and give you extra peace of mind across campuses in the city.

University headed document templates can be found on the brand pages. 

Standard items of stationery and office supplies such as staplers and whiteboard markers are available from stationery cupboards across all three SEED buildings.

If you need specialised or bulk stationery for an event such as a seminar or conference, please contact the School Office and give as much notice as possible.

Please visit the Staff wellbeing pages on StaffNet for information and guidance and resources for mental health, physical and social wellbeing, financial wellbeing and the latest wellbeing news from the University. 

SEED Wellbeing Champions

The Staff Wellbeing Champions Network is a group of colleagues who volunteer their time to support the wellbeing agenda across the University. If you would like to express interest in becoming a Staff Wellbeing Champion, please email wellbeing@manchester.ac.uk. Don't forget to seek your line manager's permission in advance.

Your SEED Wellbeing Champions are: 

• Amy Matthews
• Angelina Myza
• Matthews Woodcock
• Jade Fawcett
• Melanie Canham
• Katie Tynan
• Francesca Forster
• Hannah Laycock

In addition to contributing to the network, SEED Wellbeing Champions organise and deliver SEED wellbeing events and initiatives.

These include: 

• Ping Pong with Mel
• Thursday SEED runs with Jade
• Fancy a Brew Fridays with Amy and Angelina
• Summer visits to the Manchester Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery

See SEED guidance on Workload Allocation Model.