Family LOM 360 degrees for doctors and scientists

The first performance-based funding allocation (LOM) for research was introduced at MHH in 2005. From the outset, it included a special funding measure for female early-career researchers by incorporating women’s scientific achievements with a factor of 1.5 in the calculations. The institutes or clinics at MHH, as well as the research groups generating LOM, directly benefit financially from the work of female scientists. This creates a strong incentive to support and retain women, while also making their scientific achievements more visible. The women’s factor in research-based LOM has gained a strong reputation not only internally within the university but also nationwide as an innovative and successful measure for promoting women.

When MHH, as part of the "Family in Higher Education" project funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation, conceived a new measure to reconcile family and career and aimed to create a financial incentive for clinics employing mothers, it was a natural step to adopt the concept of LOM. Thus, the Family-LOM was born. In its initial phase, the Family-LOM for female doctors was co-financed by the Robert Bosch Foundation. This funding ended in 2010, and MHH’s executive board decided to fully fund the project using its own resources.

In 2010, MHH received the Hochschulperle award from the Stifterverband for the German Science for the Family-LOM. Since then, the Family-LOM has been established and further developed at MHH. From 2014 to 2024, not only female doctors but also female scientists were supported.

With the new concept "Family-LOM 360 Degrees" from 2025 onwards, male doctors and scientists will also be supported if they take at least six months of parental leave and engage in active parenting. Alongside other measures for active fathers, a cultural shift is aimed at, with the goal of enabling both fathers and mothers to equally share professional and caregiving responsibilities, should they choose to do so.

Please note the submission deadline for family LOM applications for the year 2025: 30.09.2024

The German flyer Family LOM 360 degrees (Flyer Familien-LOM 360 Grad) at Hannover Medical School provides quick and brief information on the Family LOM 360 degrees.

We will be happy to inform you individually and personally before you submit your application.

The MHH is providing a total of €250,000 for this innovative family policy funding instrument in 2025, of which

50,000 € for investment funds,

90,000 € for material resources,

110,000.00€ for personnel funds.

The funds are tied to the usual annuality of the budget.

Family LOM 360 Grad is awarded as part of the application process.

Family LOM 360 Grad can be applied for up to €12,000 by the returnee together with the head of department if the relevant award criteria are met.

Mothers should use the Family LOM 360 Degree - Application for Mothers form to apply. You can find the form here. 

The following award criteria apply to mothers:

• The doctor or scientist has returned to her job at the MHH within one year of the date of birth of the child/children and the return is usually at least 50% (hardship regulation possible).
• The applicant must have returned at the time of application in the current year or in the previous year.
• The doctor or scientist is still employed at the MHH at the time the funds are awarded and well beyond the return date.
• The application submitted by the returnee and the head of department is approved by the Commission for Equal Opportunities (KfG) and the funds are approved by the Equal Opportunities Officer.
• An application can only be submitted once for the same child and the same return to work by the mother. Family LOM 360 Grad can also only be granted once for multiple births.

Fathers should use the application form Family LOM 360 degrees - Application for fathers. The application form for fathers can be found here. 

The following award criteria apply to fathers:

• The doctor or scientist has returned to his job at the MHH after at least six months of parental leave within one and a half years, calculated from the date of birth of the child/children, and the return to work is generally at least 50% (hardship regulation possible).
• The applicant must have returned at the time of application in the current year or in the previous year.
• If the six months of parental leave are not taken consecutively by the father, the special family situation must be explained.
• Furthermore, the applicant may not work more than 50% part-time during the months of parental leave taken and the partner should work at least 50% or more.
• The doctor or scientist is still employed at the MHH at the time the funds are awarded and well beyond the return date.
• The application submitted by the returnee and the head of department is approved by the Commission for Equal Opportunities (KfG) and the funds are approved by the Equal Opportunities Officer.
• An application can only be submitted once for the same child and the same return to work by the father. Family LOM 360 Grad can also only be approved once for multiple births.

Applications are processed on an ongoing basis as they are received. The Commission for Equal Opportunities (KfG) decides on the eligibility of the measures applied for at its October meeting for the following year. Please send your completed and signed application in the original to the MHH Equal Opportunities Officer, OE 0013, by the end of September at the latest .

 

Once the applications have been approved at the October KfG meeting, funding is expected to be granted in mid-November. Please read the MHH Family LOM guidelines for applicants (german version only).

The applicant will manage the funds via a new cost center to be set up and managed by themselves. The funds are available immediately after the account has been set up. The budget is set up once a month on a pro rata basis. Please check your account statements in SAP regularly. Contact persons, forms for setting up a cost center or SAP training dates can be found in SharePoint under the keyword Commercial Controlling or at the following link Commercial Controlling and Reporting (KCO) (mh-hannover.local). SAP training courses for cost center and fund managers usually take place once a month on a Friday.

Please note the deadlines at the end of the year:
- for investment funds usually mid-October and
- mid-December for material funds.

Please call us if you have any questions!

The appropriate use of the Family-LOM 360 Degrees must be documented by January of the following year after the payment has been made.

The proof of use consists of a copy of the SAP account statement, a brief report commenting on the use of the funds, and a tabular comparison of the pledged and actually used funds. These documents should be sent either by email or internal mail (Hauspost) to the Equal Opportunity Officer and will be submitted to the Equality Commission and included in the Equality Report.