Keeping in Touch Days

‘Keeping in Touch’ (KIT) days are a provision under the Work and Families Act 2006 particularly intended to help employees on maternity/adoption leave with the process of resuming work after a period of leave.

If an employee wishes to undertake a KIT day (s) they should contact their line manager to gain agreement in the first instance.

Following the completion of The Keeping in Touch (KIT) Days Completion Form (.doc) should be completed so that payment can be made. Copies of this form are also available from Human Resources.

• Keeping in Touch Days frequently asked questions

Key Points

• These days are optional and the decision to undertake a KIT day must be made by agreement between the employee and the employer (there is no obligation for either the employer to provide these days or for the employee to accept any days offered);
• There can be up to 10 KIT days during the period of maternity/adoption leave;
• Each KIT day can be an agreed amount of working time. For example, whether an employee works for one hour or a whole day, this will still count as one KIT day;
• Any KIT day taken will not bring an employee's maternity/adoption leave period to an end, and payment of SMP/SAP will not be affected. (Although SMP/SAP will be offset against pay for the KIT day);
• KIT days can be taken at any point during maternity/adoption leave except for the first two weeks directly after the baby is born (known as compulsary maternity leave);
• KIT days can either be taken as blocks of days, or as individual days;
• There is no obligation for either the staff member or the University to agree to a KIT day (s).

Advantages of Keeping in Touch Days

Keeping in touch days can provide a number of advantages for both the university and the employee and the smooth transition back after maternity/adoption leave.

• Important projects can benefit from employees with valued skills. (For example, the end of a project with which the employee has been intimately involved may require their attendance);
• Training and development can continue during maternity/adoption leave. (For example, a training course could take place during the maternity/adoption leave that might be important to the employee's role);
• Staff can stay in touch with workplace issues and changes.

Payment for Keeping in Touch Days

If the employee works during a period of full pay, no additional payment will be made. If a person works during a period of half maternity/adoption pay or SMP/SAP, pay will be ‘topped up’ so that the person receives full pay for the hours worked. If the employee works for less than their normal full day, this will count as one KIT day for the purposes of the 10 KIT days allocated, although payment will only be made for actual hours worked. On no occasion will an employee receive more than a full day’s pay.

Payment Examples:

Payment will be made as follows:

• Payment for KIT days will not exceed full pay. If a KIT day occurs during a period of full maternity/adoption pay then no additional payment will be made.
• If a KIT Day occurs during a period of half pay or SMP only, this will be effectively "topped-up" so that the individual receives full pay at their normal hourly rate for the hours worked on the day in question.
• If a KIT Day occurs during a period of unpaid leave the individual will receive full pay at their normal hourly rate for the hours worked on that day.
• Payment for KIT Days will only be made after completion of the day’s work.

More information

Please contact your link Human Resources Manager/Officer if you have any questions or queries.

Human Resources Services
January 2009