Legal framework

Maternity Leave

• Maternity leave lasts 16 weeks with full salary (100% of the average working hours of 5 months prior to maternity leave).
• Maternity leave starts 2 weeks prior to the presumed due date at the earliest. In special cases, e.g. after a premature birth, maternity leave can be interrupted. An illness or accident, however, do not interrupt maternity leave. 
• In connection with the birth or adoption of a child, employees are entitled to up to 6 weeks of unpaid leave if it is manageable for the regular operational functions.
   

Important: The form "Anmeldung für eine Mutterschaftsentschädigung" must be filled in for maternity leave. Thereby, the claim for compensation (of the Fund for Loss of Earned Income) is made. 80% of the salary (CHF 196.- a day max) of the first 14 weeks of the leave will be refunded to the University or the respective credit.

Please fill out the form as thoroughly as possible and forward it to the Human Resources Department.

Paternity Leave

With a workload of 100%, fathers are entitled to 10 days of paid paternity leave on behalf of the birth of their child. Paternity leave must be taken in one block or at staggered intervals within six months after a child's birth.

Adoption Leave

Employees who adopt a child are entitled to 10 days paid leave. Adoption leave must be taken in one block or at staggered intervals within six months after a child's birth.

Paid Short Break

A vacation is any paid or unpaid absence of service granted on a submitted application.

Paid short leave may amount to 10 working days per calendar year. The institution may grant paid short breaks as follows:

• Care of sick or injured children or close family members: up to 10 working days / maximum 3 days per event
• sudden illness of a close family member: up to 4 working days
• death of a close family member: up to 4 working days
• Marriage, Registration: maximum 1 working day
• Change of residence: maximum 1 working day
• Participation in delegate meetings of associations of state personnel: up to 2 working days
• Board members of associations of state personnel: up to 3 working days

For medical or dental examinations, employees receive 1 hour per visit per working day (regardless of the level of employment). On days when you record doctor's or dentist's visits as well as therapeutic treatments in your working time, the target working time may no longer be exceeded.

For longer lasting medical and medically prescribed therapeutic treatments, the time actually required may be counted as working time if approved by the superior.

Unpaid Leave

A vacation is any paid or unpaid absence of service granted on a submitted application.

The institution grants its employees an unpaid leave. The duration of the unpaid leave as well as the regulation of the insurance must be reported to the Personnel Department at least 30 days before the start of the leave. You have to hand in an application approved by the superior and a mutation form.

Insurance Unpaid Leave

The insured person remains insured against the risks of death and disability with the benefits insured prior to commencement of the unpaid leave. Both employee and employer contributions have to be paid during the leave period. Further information is provided in the BPK Pension Regulations.

Unpaid Leave Credit

Unpaid leave time is not credited as working time.

Illness and Accidents on Unpaid Leave

The occurrence of an illness or accident during unpaid leave does not cause the termination of leave and does not grant the payment sick leave.

Reduction of Employment

Upon request, employees are entitled to a reduction of the level of employment after the birth or adoption of a child. The precise guidelines can be found in the Personnel Ordinance of the Canton of Bern.

Nursing During Working Hours

Breastfeeding mothers are allowed to count working hours for breastfeeding or for pumping out milk in the first year of life of the child:

• with a daily working time of up to four hours: 30 minutes,
• if the daily working time is more than four hours: 60 minutes,
• if the daily working time is more than seven hours: 90 minutes.

With the approval of the superior, the time actually required may be counted as working time, if a mother needs more time to breastfeed or pump out milk.

Please find the corresponding legal text here:

Personalrecht Kanton Bern

Compulsory Attendance for Students

If, as a result of pregnancy or the care of children, there are difficulties in complying with the attendance requirement, reference may be made to Article 16 of the Regulations on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the University of Bern: