Working at St Catharine's

Please find the latest information for staff and Fellows about coronavirus (COVID-19) and how St Catharine’s College is responding to help delay the spread of infections.

If staff have any concerns not covered by these FAQs, please contact your line manager.

If Fellows have any concerns not covered by these FAQs, please contact the Bursar (bursar@caths.cam.ac.uk).

Will COVID-19 affect my pay?

All staff with a permanent or fixed-term contract of employment will continue to be paid as normal.

What will remote working involve?

Normal working hours and expectations remain for those who can work remotely. It will be essential to stay in regular contact with your line manager, team and other colleagues while you work remotely.

This is a difficult time for everyone and we should be prepared to work flexibly to support staff who need to self-isolate. This means that team members may be asked to work on College activities that they would not ordinarily be involved in.

The College understands that staff working at home may need to spend some time looking after family members. Please work closely with your line manager to prioritise activities.

Read the College's guidance on effective remote working.

What happens if I feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms?

In addition to the College's existing Absence Reporting and Sick Pay Policy (2019), you should refer to the following guidance that has been developed to reflect circumstances specific to COVID-19:

I’ve got a holiday coming up. Will I be able to take my pre-agreed annual leave for it?

Yes, we want staff to take time away from work to recuperate and recharge as planned. However, some staff may be asked by their line manager to defer leave to enable business critical functions to continue to operate.

I’ve had to cancel a holiday booking because of COVID-19. Can I move the corresponding annual leave?

Given the importance of taking time away from work to recuperate and recharge, you are strongly encouraged to take all of your annual leave by the end of the leave year as planned, unless your line manager indicates you are needed to enable business critical functions to continue to operate. A maximum of five days may be carried over into the next leave year.

Why is the College using the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme?

The disruption caused by COVID-19 will significantly reduce the College’s income in the coming months, including income from student accommodation and conferences. As a registered charity, the College is non-profit making and the pandemic will have a serious impact on our finances and leave us with a substantial deficit this year. The Trustees of the College have a legal duty to ensure that future generations of students do not suffer as a result of the challenges we are facing today.

In light of the reduced student presence in Cambridge, we have carefully reviewed our College operations and what work is required to maintain a safe, supportive environment. Many of our staff, across many departments, are being put on furlough and these individuals were eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The College is topping up the amount paid by the government to ensure that staff are fully supported during this difficult period. The rest of our staff continued to work either remotely, or in College with appropriate social distancing, and provide support to our students, in Cambridge and further afield.