On this page you'll find information on combining study and work with family caretaking.
We are committed to building a community where everyone can study, work and do research on equal terms. If you witness or experience any kind of discrimination, there are multiple confidential channels available for reporting and support.
Have questions, need support, or want to share ideas on the topic of family friendliness at the university? Please get in touch with us.
Each room is equipped with a nursing chair, nursing pillow, water, a kettle, cups and breastfeeding tea, a refrigerator, and changing pads.
At HSG, parents are entitled to breastfeeding periods. Depending on your child’s needs, you may nurse them on demand or at regular, set intervals. Staff may decide whether they spend (remunerated) breastfeeding periods at or outside their workplace. In addition, breastfeeding mothers may not perform hazardous or arduous tasks.
Breastfeeding periods are defined by daily workloads:
Mothers are entitled to sixteen weeks of paid maternity leave (Employee Regulations, Art. 50)
A child’s father or a mother’s wife or registered partner are entitled to ten days of leave within six months of the child’s birth. In the case of multiple births, the partner is granted 15 days of leave (Employee Regulations, Art. 66a). The father or wife or registered partner may take all or half of their 13th month’s salary as paid leave within one year after the birth of a child (Employee Regulations, Art. 97, Para. 2)
Parents of an adopted child are entitled to two weeks of leave if the adopted child is younger than four years. Adoptive parents may choose who takes the statutory period of leave or may divide that leave between both parents (as of 1 January 2023).
Teaching staff are entitled to reduced workloads for family reasons. Mothers of newborns are entitled to being released from their teaching duties for one semester (in accordance with their teaching load). Fathers are entitled to a reduction of two hours of teaching per week (based on full-time position). In justified cases, the University President may further reduce a teaching load for family reasons by max. 50% (Teaching Load Regulations, Art. 22).
HSG supports parents in reconciling their childcare obligations and professional goals in the best possible way. HSG has service contracts with the Löwenzahn daycare centre (subsidized places) and the Fiorino Triangel daycare centre (priority allocation).
Schools, kindergartens, day nurseries and daycare centres in St. Gallen.
The DE&I counseling and specialist center supports you in balancing your studies and family life. If you are a parent, you can apply here for adaptive measures.