Support Contact Programme

Employees of the University of Cologne who take a family leave of absence are often excluded from the operational flow of information. Whether for the birth of a child or to care for a family member – an employee's absence leads not only to a lack of formal and informal points of contact but also to information deficits where important new developments and current work fields are concerned. These factors can make an employee's return and reintegration in the organisation following family leave a considerable challenge.

For the University of Cologne, the impact is doubly severe. First, the departure of qualified staff means that valuable, organisation-specific and expert knowledge is lost and information flows interrupted or severed altogether. Secondly, it reinforces a gender-specific imbalance, as women are still the primary users of family leave and often encounter career setbacks as a result.

To facilitate employees' return following family leave, the University of Cologne has long worked with the CFS to implement a variety of measures and offerings. The new Family Leave Support Contact Programme, which was developed by CFS and Personnel Development, also offers additional arrangements and specific measures to accomplish these objectives. These improve planning of family leave, permit more effective involvement in the organisation on the part of the staff member on family leave, and enable tailored balancing of family and career for members of the university staff.