Leiden University offers a wide range of facilities and services that help create an accessible, inclusive, and safe working environment for all staff.

Gender identity and pronouns

Leiden University respects the diversity of gender identities of its staff, students and visitors. Our pronouns brochure explains the use of pronouns, and the guide to gender-inclusive communication shows how to use inclusive language and forms of address, with examples in the University writing guidelines.

Working in a diverse environment

Read how the University embeds diversity and inclusion in its HR policy through working in a diverse environment, including Talent to the Top, the Labour Participation Act, internationalisation and multilingualism.

Inclusive recruitment and promotion

Recruitment and promotion procedures support gender balance and a more diverse staff, aided by the HRM Inclusive Recruitment & Selection toolkit, Implicit Bias training, and PhD regulations that require gender balance in PhD committees.

Working with a disability

Staff with a disability can find guidance at the Working with a functional limitation page, or contact their supervisor, HR adviser or the University HR coaches. Depending on the situation, several other people can help: a confidential counsellor for unacceptable behaviour or personal matters, the university occupational health physician for health and work-ability questions, the health and safety coordinators (arbo- en milieucoördinatoren) for workplace and accessibility adjustments, and the emergency response officers for evacuation and safety in case of an emergency. There is also a working group on disability inclusion that meets monthly to explore how the University can better support staff with disabilities, and it welcomes HR professionals and experts with experience who would like to contribute their ideas and experience.

Health and well-being

Support for your well-being at work includes mental fitness, work pressure and Leiden Healthy University.

Work-life balance

The Terms of Employment Individual Choices Model lets you adjust your hours and buy or sell leave, various types of leave are available for parents and carers, and information on pregnancy and childcare is available for expecting staff and their partners.

Social safety, dignity and conduct

If you experience discrimination, intimidation or other inappropriate behaviour, the social safety pages set out where to turn: confidential counsellors, the complaints committees and the Staff Ombuds Officer. Behaviour standards are set out in the code of conduct on integrity.

Combatting sexual harassment

Sexual harassment has no place in our community. Read more in the Sexual harassment brochure. To report it, contact the confidential counsellors.

All-gender toilets

There are now all-gender toilets in many of our buildings, and more will gradually be added. Overview of all all-gender toilets.

Pregnancy, parenthood and caring responsibilities

Support is available if you are expecting, a parent, or caring for someone: see Pregnancy and Carer’s Leave. You can find nursing mother's rooms in various University buildings. Collect the key from the reception in your building unless otherwise stated. All lactation rooms have a refrigerator and can be locked from inside. Overview of nursing mother's rooms.

Quiet rooms for meditation and prayer

There are quiet rooms at various University locations for meditation and prayer, open to students and staff. Overview of quiet rooms

Affordable period products

Period products are available for 50 cents in the SchoolSupply vending machines, so that menstruation is not a financial burden.

Training courses

raining courses help staff build the awareness and skills needed for an inclusive learning and working environment. The D&I Expertise Office works closely with the HRM department and ICLON, and custom-made courses can be offered on request. For questions, contact diversitytraining@bb.leidenuniv.nl. Examples of courses for staff include:

• Being aware of implicit bias, diversity and inclusion (Basic) (Basic)
• Recruitment and selection (Basic or Plus)
• Interactive lecture: Brown Eyes, Blue Eyes
• Abrasive conversations
• Looking beyond labels
• Intercultural competences for lecturers and supervisors
• Argumentation training for lecturers and supervisors
• Ensuring Student Wellbeing

Inclusive teaching

The Teaching guide inclusive learning environment gives teaching staff practical tips for developing and delivering inclusive education, and you can join an intervision group on inclusive teaching.

Unnecessary gender registration

he Toolkit onnodige sekseregistratie (in Dutch), from the Atria Institute, helps you check whether registering gender is necessary and how to be inclusive of a diversity of gender identities.