Recognising the wide range of personal and professional circumstances that staff encounter, the University of Otago offers special leave categories for situations where the standard paid leave options may not apply, or additional leave options may be required.
Individual situations, contracts, and working requirements are taken into account when considering eligibility for these leave options, where not all situations or staff will be eligible for all types of leave.
- Additional leave is available to purchase for staff.
- Bereavement and tangihanga leave is offered to staff who require leave to attend a funeral or tangi, and grieve after a loss.
- Conference leave is available for academic staff to allow them to present their research work at a conference.
- Jury service is a legal requirement, so staff are granted special leave to attend.
- Leave of absence is available to academic staff when working away from their normal workspace.
- Leave without pay is available when no leave is available and must be agreed by the University.
- Parental leave is available to support primary caregivers and partners.
- Research and study leave (RSL) opportunities are offered to academic staff to further their knowledge and research.
- Social impact leave allows staff to take some work time to support causes that matter to them.
- Time off in lieu is for when an alternate leave option is required for overtime or public holiday work.