How does Saarland University help employees balance work obligations and family responsibilities?

The University is an officially certified family-friendly university. Our aim is to ensure that you can successfully combine your work and family commitments. Wherever we can, we’ll help you find a way to achieve a healthy and productive work-life balance.

Any family-related questions you have can be addressed to the Gender Equality and Diversity Management unit and the 'Family-Friendly Office' (audit familiengerechte hochschule) These service points provide information covering a wide range of topics, such as selecting the right type of child care, organizing maternity leave, balancing care commitments with work responsibilities, and accessing available support schemes.

If you become pregnant, please notify your HR adviser at the Human Resources Division who will send you the information you need and will initiate any statutorily required measures. If you or a member of your team is pregnant, the university’s Gender Equality Office can also be contacted directly for advice on issues such as temporary replacement staff during maternity leave or the university’s work continuity scheme. Saarland University also wants to support you in finding the right balance between your professorial commitments and your family responsibilities. For instance, the Saarbrücken campus is home to two child day-care centres (Kindertagesstätten), which means that it’s only a short walk between your workplace and the nursery.

Questions about dual career opportunities are best resolved during the appointment process. However, if you have further questions later on or you need assistance on dual career matters, please contact the Gender Equality Office for support.