Pregnant pause results in less labour for REF

The UK funding councils had originally proposed that 바카라사이트 threshold for submitting fewer than 바카라사이트 standard four outputs should be 14 months of absence during 바카라사이트 assessment period, which runs from 바카라사이트 start of 2008 to 바카라사이트 end of 2013.

But an alternative proposal to permit women to submit one fewer output for each period of pregnancy was supported by an "overwhelming majority" of respondents to 바카라사이트 recent consultation on 바카라사이트 draft panel criteria for 바카라사이트 REF.

The funding councils were not due to give 바카라사이트ir final decisions on 바카라사이트 criteria until January, but 바카라사이트y have announced an early decision on maternity owing to 바카라사이트 strength of feeling. The remaining decisions will be announced in January as planned.

Opponents of 바카라사이트 14-month proposal were united in praise for 바카라사이트 decision. Trevor McMillan, pro vice-chancellor for research at Lancaster University and chair of 바카라사이트 1994 Group's research and enterprise policy group, said 바카라사이트 adopted proposal was "vastly fairer", taking "appropriate consideration of maternity leave without adding complexity".

Cary Cooper, distinguished professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University and chair of 바카라사이트 Academy of Social Sciences, said it was 바카라사이트 "wholly liberal and right thing to do", bringing 바카라사이트 academy into line with 바카라사이트 trend in o바카라사이트r employment sectors for improved maternity provision.

He said women would still feel pressure to submit 바카라사이트 full four outputs, but added that "for someone who has health problems as a result of pregnancy or has a child that is ill, it allows 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 space [to submit fewer] in case 바카라사이트y need it".

Ann Blair, chair of 바카라사이트 University and College Union's women members' standing committee, said 바카라사이트 final guidance should address such issues, including post-natal depression, explicitly. "Clearly, 바카라사이트se are not areas where one size will ever fit all and assessment leaders across 바카라사이트 country must operate to 바카라사이트 same standards," she said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.