New support for career breaks
Our new policy is aimed at supporting members who take a break from work by providing a substantial membership discount.
Supporting our members throughout their career is an important role we play in their professional life, this includes time they may take away from their core job.
In particular, this policy supports members who are parents, those with caring responsibilities and those who may find themselves in a long period of ill health.
A career break from work can be for a variety of reasons. Although not exhaustive, in the context of considering our policy a career break can be for one of the following reasons:
- Having children and raising a family (maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave, adoption leave etc)
- Caring responsibilities
- Illness
- Redundancy
- Taking a sabbatical
- Personal development (e.g. volunteering, full-time study)
The policy
Any member can apply for a career break under this policy. Each case will be assessed against the criteria set out in this document of what forms a career break. In essence being permanently not in active work for six months or more, usually for one of the above stated reasons, would be deemed to be a career break.
A reduced rate of 15% of the full membership fee (i.e. an 85% discount) will be applied to approved members on a career break at their next membership renewal. Renewal fees are due in January each year and are usually invoiced in December of the previous year.
If a member has already paid for the current year, we would apply a pro rata refund on your membership fees for that year.
At the conclusion of the career break, a member on an approved break must inform CITMA and will be liable for paying fees at the full rate for each remaining full months of the year.
Someone on a career break will be treated as being a full member, with all the benefits of membership.
An example case:
- A member informs CITMA that they intend to commence a career break on 15th June for one year. Once granted they will be put onto our system as being on a break from the date stated.
- A pro-rata refund will be arranged for the remainder of the year.
- Their renewal invoice will be issued in December for 15% of their fee.
- The following June the member confirms that their career break has concluded. They will be invoiced for any pro-rata fees for July-December of that year.
In situations where a member has allowed their membership to lapse without payment or notice of any career break we will consider whether the career break discount should be applied to back payments on a case-by-case basis
In line with Regulation C, in normal circumstances, we require an individual to back pay membership subscriptions from the date of lapsing if they wish to maintain their original joining date.
Due to the fact that no communication took place before the career break was taken a £50 administration fee will be applied, as set out in Regulation C of our bye-laws.
To apply for a career break please email [email protected] and one of the CITMA team will be in touch to discuss your situation, usually within 48 hours. You will then be asked to submit an online form to confirm the details. We will assess each application on a case-by-case basis and usually make a decision within one working week.
We will ask you for an expected end date, although we understand that this might change. Please keep us updated. We will be in touch with you as the date of the break finishing approaches.
Any abuse of the policy will be dealt with under Regulation F of our bye-laws.