Parenthood at University

Parenthood involves considerable challenges in reconciling responsibilities with work and studies. Therefore, among the five general objectives set out in the Gender Equality Plan for the UW, one of them is dedicated to supporting a work-life balance, including family life. Initiatives envisaged within this objective include the development of care infrastructure at the UW, changing the organisational culture to take into account the needs of parents working and studying there, and increasing the visibility of care responsibilities.

We want the University to be a parent-friendly place, providing support for all academic community members to combine professional and personal roles.

To verify needs in this area, the UW Equality Team together with the Centre for Research on Women and Gender and the Education Quality Evaluation Unit are conducting a needs survey for parents at the University of Warsaw — Being a parent at UW. We also encourage you to share your ideas and solutions regarding work–life balance at: rownouprawnienie@uw.edu.pl.

If you need support, you can always write to:

• the Academic Ombudsman (ombudsman.uw.edu.pl),
• the Team of Coordinators for counteracting unequal treatment, discrimination, mobbing and other undesirable behaviours (zespolkoordynatorow@uw.edu.pl),
• the Equality Team (rownouprawnienie@uw.edu.pl).

Key information about support for parenthood and reconciling professional and family/private life:

• Office for Personnel Affairs – Employment Handbook
• Office for Personnel Affairs – useful information during employment
• Childcare infrastructure avaliable for the University community
• Compilation of legal and practical aspects of work–life balance – international, national and university context (available in Polish)

Most benefits and forms of support are available to both parents, but some solutions are dedicated to women or men. Information on these can be found on the Maternity policy and Paternity policy pages, respectively.

Research and reports

• BEING A PARENT AT UW — university-wide needs survey for parents
• “Parents at the University” report (avaliable in Polish)
• Report from studies “Women at universities and the COVID-19 pandemic” (available in Polish)
• Forum for Responsible Business report “Family care and work” (available in Polish)

Support measures at UW:

• UW nursery “Uniwersyteckie Maluchy” (avaliable in Polish)
• Kindergarten cooperating with UW “Smyki ze Smyczkowej”
• Dormitories
• Social scholarship
• PhD scholarship
• Health insurance
• ISIC insurance (avaliable in Polish)
• Social benefits
• Centre for Sport and Recreation (avaliable in Polish)
• Physical Education and Sport Study Unit
• Membership Cards for UW Employees and Doctoral Students
• Grant calls and projects targeted at young parents conducting research

Legal basis:

• Statute of the University of Warsaw
• Rules of Work at the University of Warsaw
• Ordinance concerning the procedure, rules and criteria for periodic evaluation of academic teachers (avaliable in Polish)
• Ordinance on principles of performing occasional remote work at the University of Warsaw
• Rules and Regulations of the University Social Benefits Fund
• Rules of Study at the University of Warsaw
• Rules and Regulations of the Doctoral Schools at the University of Warsaw 
• Regulations of student benefits at the University of Warsaw (avaliable in Polish)
• EU Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers

Good practices:

• Good practices in University of Warsaw faculties and units – combining work, family and private life – 2025 summary
• Good practices in University of Warsaw faculties and units – combining work, family and private life – 2023 summary
• Reccomendation on the scheduling of official meetings at the University of Warsaw 
• Compilation of good practices at universities associated in the 4EU+ Alliance:

1. 1. Uniwersity of Warsaw 
   2. Charles University (Czech Republic)
   3. Heidelberg University (Germany)
   4. Sorbonne Université (France)
   5. Copenhagen Uniwversity (Denmark)
   6. University of Milan (Italy)

Remote work and occasional remote work

On 1 September 2023 the Ordinance on the principles of performing occasional remote work at the University of Warsaw entered into force.
Applications for consent to perform occasional remote work are submitted in the SAP FIORI system.

The path for applying and accepting an application for occasional remote work is the same as in the case of applications for annual leave – the employee submits an application for occasional remote work using the “Leave applications” tab (on the main page of the SAP FIORI portal), and then from the drop-down list ” “Application type” selects the “Occasional remote work” application.

On 1 October 2024, University introduced the possibility of performing remote work. The rules on remote work as well as the rights and obligations of the employer and employees are set out in the Agreement on the principles of performing remote work.

The content of the “Agreement” and the active application form in Word can be found in the FOR EMPLOYEE/Remote work tab – access after logging in with a CAS account (Central Authentication Server).