Requirements for new staff prior to taking up appointment | Principal benefit plans | Hours of work | Absenteeism | Equipment and clothing | Injury on duty | Scientific and technical officers

The following conditions apply to all permanent professional, administrative and support staff appointments. Additional conditions will be prescribed for particular appointments and will be applicable to specific functional areas.

Requirements for new staff prior to taking up appointment

1. The University may require a staff member to undergo a medical examination. The fitness of the appointee to perform the duties of the job in the short to medium term is the sole question to be answered in this examination.
2. In the case of citizens of countries other than South Africa who do not have residence status, the appointment is offered subject to the staff member fulfilling any legal requirements in South Africa.
3. Induction occurs after appointment, but anyone managing a new member of staff must prepare an induction programme before a staff member starts work. Both the staff member and Manager will receive an induction checklist before the commencement date.

Principal benefit plans

1. All UCT staff members on permanent or T2 conditions of service (unless they work 20 hours per week or less) will be required to become a member of the University’s Retirement Fund (UCTRF). As a member they will receive UCTRF provident-type retirement benefits as well as death-in-service and disability cover. The fund allows a choice of 4 investment portfolios to direct the investment of the monthly retirement funding contributions paid by the University on behalf of the staff member. Further information about the fund and these choices is available at http://www.uctrf.uct.ac.za.
2. A staff member not covered by his/her partner's medical aid scheme, is required to become a member of such medical aid scheme as is approved by the University if his/her application for membership is accepted by the scheme concerned. An employee who is covered by his/her partner's medical aid scheme is not permitted to become a member of UCT's scheme.
3. A staff member who is not a member of the UCTRF is required to participate in the Group Life Assurance Scheme on a non-contributory basis.
4. Staff who undertake study at UCT, or whose dependant partner or dependent children do so, are eligible for a staff rate on tuition fees.

Hours of work

1. A staff member is required to adhere to the hours of work laid down for the department or section to which he/she is appointed.
2. Notification of such hours will be given, on appointment, by the Head of Department or section.
3. If a staff member is late he/she is required to report immediately to the Supervisor, as time lost through lateness will not be paid for unless there is an acceptable explanation. If a staff member wishes to be absent for a special reason, the Supervisor or Manager should be asked well in advance. If the staff member is unexpectedly unable to come to work, he/she must send a message to the Supervisor or Manager as soon as possible, explaining the absence and giving the date of return. Failure to comply with this provision may result in disciplinary action being taken against the staff member.
4. Certain categories of staff who are required to work additional time outside their normal hours of work may be paid overtime.

Absenteeism

1. Staff members who wish to be absent from work for reasons not connected with their duties must seek prior approval for such absence. They are required to use their annual leave for such purposes.
2. Absence from work without prior approval, except in cases of illness, will be treated as unpaid leave. Such absence may, in appropriate circumstances, result in disciplinary action being taken.

Equipment and clothing

1. Written or oral instructions about the operation of equipment or machinery must be strictly observed. Staff are not to operate machinery, motors, power switches, pipes or valves, unless specifically authorised to do so.
2. Where overalls and other protective clothing are provided by the University staff members are required to wear them when working. Staff working in dangerous conditions are required to wear the protective clothing provided (such as helmet or safety goggles). Failure to comply with this provision may result in disciplinary action being taken against a staff member.

Injury on duty

If a staff member is injured while on duty he/she is required to report the accident immediately to his/her Supervisor or Manager.

See: Incident reporting procedure

Scientific and technical officers

Scientific Officers correspond in salary scale to the Technical Officer grades. Scientific Officer titles are used for support staff where the work is of scientific rather than technical nature. Scientific Officers generally hold postgraduate academic qualifications.

Page last updated: 20 September 2011

back to top