Bye-Law 3 of Bucks Students’ Union:
SABBATICAL OFFICERS
January 2019
SABBATICAL OFFICERS Sabbatical Officer Portfolios 1. The President shall; 1.1. Be the principle officer of the Union and a member of University Council. 1.2. Be responsible for setting the political direction of the Union and communication with all stakeholders. 1.3. Be the primary representative of all students at Bucks on issues within the University, the local community and the national stage. 1.4. Have responsibility for engaging with the national student movement and the future direction of Higher Education and enabling others to do so as well, in order to strengthen the Union’s sphere of influence. 1.5. Be a trustee of the Union and Chair the Trustee Board, Strategy and Planning Committee and various meetings of Union staff, Members and University staff as required. 1.6. Be responsible for receiving reports from the Chief Executive Officer on their work and progress 2. The Vice President Education & Welfare shall; 2.1. Be responsible for improving the educational and welfare experience of all students at Bucks. 2.2. Be the principle course representative and assume political responsibility for the Union’s input into the University’s system of course representation. 2.3. Hold the university accountable for its promises and delivery of education. 2.4. Chair various meetings of Union staff, Members and University staff, including Representation Management Meeting and Education Forum and other meetings in the absence of the President. 2.5. Be a Trustee of the Union. 3. The Vice President Student Involvement shall; 3.1. Be responsible for improving the non-academic experience of all students at Bucks. 3.2. Hold political responsibility for the development and delivery of all student activities by the Union. 3.3. Be responsible for increasing overall participation and maximising its diversity, in all areas of the Union’s work. 3.4. Chair various meetings of Union staff, Members and University staff, including Student Activities Meeting and other meetings in the absence of the President. 3.5. Be a Trustee of the Union. 2
Terms of Office 4. The Sabbatical Officer will be on a twelve month fixed term contract which can be renewed once only through election as specified in the Union’s Constitution and the Education Act 1994. 5. Employment will be from the 1 July after election to 30 June of the following year. In addition there will normally be a paid two week induction period commencing immediately prior to the start of the first term of office. 6. Where an officer is re-elected for a second consecutive year continuous employment applies from the commencement of their first term of office. 7. A Sabbatical Officer who starts their term of office later than 1 July shall serve from the declaration of their election until 30 June in that academic year. 8. It is a condition of the fixed term contract that Sabbaticals automatically waive all rights relating to unfair dismissal and/or redundancy arising from the cessation of employment on the expiry of this contract at the end of its fixed term.
Accountability 9. Sabbatical Officers are accountable to the Students’ Union Membership through the Board of Trustees and Union Council. They will report to Union Council and the Board of Trustees. 10. Sabbatical Officers shall produce regular reports to committees and for publication in the Union newspaper and on its website. 11. Sabbatical Officers will contribute to the Impact Report on an annual basis. 12. The Sabbatical Officers will also be required to report to other meetings held within the Union, as requested.
Termination of Employment 13. Sabbatical Officers can resign by giving one month’s notice in writing to Union Council through the CEO or HR Manager. 14. They can be removed by a vote of no confidence by referendum as outlined in Bye-Law 5: Referenda. In the event of this, the Officer will leave office immediately, will receive one month’s pay in lieu of notice, and will not thereafter be eligible to hold office in this Students’ Union. 15. The Sabbatical Officer is subject to the Union’s disciplinary code for members and may be removed through this procedure for issues relating to misconduct. 3
Exclusivity of employment/service to others 16. Sabbatical Officers may not continue or enter into any other paid employment during their year of Office without the prior approval in writing of the Board of Trustees. 17. Sabbatical Officers will be required to devote their full attention and abilities to their duties during working hours and to act in the best interests of the Students’ Union at all times. 18. Sabbatical Officers shall not use for their own benefit or divulge to any person(s), firm, company or other organisation whatsoever any confidential information belonging to the Students’ Union or relating to its affairs or dealings which may come to their knowledge during your employment.
Working conditions 19. Hours will be based around Monday – Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm and Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm with half an hour for lunch, totalling 37 hours per week. 20. The Sabbatical Officer will be expected to attend meetings outside of these hours as appropriate and is expected to work whatever overtime is necessary. Sabbatical Officers will be expected to work weekends and evenings as necessary. 21. Overtime will not be paid but some flexibility of hours is permissible. 22. Sabbatical Officers shall be employed to work at all University campuses, as well as visiting partner college sites as appropriate, and shall split their time accordingly as agreed by Union committees. 23. Sabbatical Officers will be expected to take part in an appraisal scheme known as the PDR 360 Review.
Remuneration 24. Whilst Sabbatical Officers are also elected Sabbatical Trustees of Bucks Students’ Union, this does not form part of the contract of employment which is in respect of the operational and representative duties outlined below. 25. The Unions regulations regarding the acceptance of business gifts are contained in the Financial Procedures.
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Sickness 26. The Officer shall be entitled to all benefits as specified by current legislation. 27. Sabbatical Officers must notify the Union office of sickness before 9.30am on each and every day of sick leave unless this has already been covered by a sick note. 28. University sickness regulations shall apply, namely self certification on the fourth day of sickness and a doctor’s note after eight days. 29. All records should be presented to the Human Resources Manager who will monitor Sabbatical Officer absence. 30. Arrangements for operations or important health appointments should be agreed with the Senior Management Team.
Complaints 31. Sabbatical Officers shall be subject to the Students’ Union complaints procedures as specified in Bye-Law 9: Complaints and Appeals. 32. Sabbatical Officers who have a grievance should take these up with the Board of Trustees having first declared a conflict of interest.
Disciplinary 33. Sabbatical Officers shall be subject to the Disciplinary Procedures in accordance with Bye-Law 8: Members Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures, in the event of issues of misconduct. 34. Any substantial breach of Employment Agreement or this Bye-Law may constitute a disciplinary offence and may result in termination of a sabbatical officer’s employment. Bucks Students’ Union has the right to terminate any or all entitlements of this Employment Agreement, as a result of such breach, as well as the use of Union facilities and equipment, following the due process procedures and codes for the time being in force. 35. Such disciplinary action will not affect your elected office unless you are democratically removed from office, in line with Section 53 of the Constitution.
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Bucks Students’ Union Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 2JZ Tel: 01494 601 600 Email: union@bucks.ac.uk Website: bucksstudentsunion.org Bucks Students’ Union is a registered charity – no. 1144820 VAT Reg. No. 669 0980 87