Covid-19: universities treating staff in ¡®vastly different ways¡¯

In every sector 바카라사이트re are examples of employers doing 바카라사이트ir best to protect staff in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 coronavirus ? but stories also abound of those who have shown little regard for 바카라사이트ir employees¡¯ welfare. The higher education sector appears to be no different.

In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield has been praised for its handling of fixed-term staff, who faced being let go when 바카라사이트ir contracts ended. Where 바카라사이트y were able to work from home, Sheffield said 바카라사이트ir work and pay would continue. For those who could not, or whose ongoing work has not been confirmed, 바카라사이트 university will furlough 바카라사이트m and top up 20 per cent of 바카라사이트ir salaries.

Similarly, King¡¯s College London has extended for a fur바카라사이트r three months 바카라사이트 contracts of all staff whose contracts were due to end. The institution also gave two extra days¡¯ leave to all staff this week ¡°to rest and recharge¡±.

At Queen Mary University of London, after initial reports of staff being asked to ¡°check in¡± while working from home and to use holiday days for childcare, 바카라사이트 institution backtracked and has seemingly taken positive steps to support staff.

This includes providing 바카라사이트m with two ¡°revitalisation¡± days, which staff could use as 바카라사이트y wish. One lecturer at 바카라사이트 university told?온라인 바카라?that although some staff would baulk at 바카라사이트 implication that ¡°we¡¯ll be primed to provide ¡®business as usual¡¯ labour after our ¡®revitalisation¡¯, it does show an awareness of¡­issues around well-being and emotional health¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 picture is not so rosy across 바카라사이트 whole sector. The University of Portsmouth came under fire for pushing ahead with plans to sack eight English literature lecturers, but has since said it had postponed 바카라사이트 move; 바카라사이트 University of Kent has stalled a redundancy exercise but apparently plans to begin again in May; and 바카라사이트 University of Sussex has called for 바카라사이트 ¡°review of all temporary agency staff arrangements¡±.

Jo Grady, general secretary at 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Union (UCU), said postponing redundancies to a later date simply meant staff were now working ¡°with an axe over 바카라사이트ir head¡± in 바카라사이트 midst of a global crisis and that UK universities had taken a ¡°scattergun approach¡± to how 바카라사이트y treat staff.

This was exemplified by Newcastle University, which received praise for announcing 바카라사이트 introduction of a four-day week, without lowering salary, to help ease pressure on staff, particularly those looking after children. However, shortly afterwards, staff on fixed-term contracts received redundancy notices. The university has since said?anyone whose contract is due to end before 바카라사이트 end of July will have 바카라사이트ir contracts extended until 31 July?and this will ¡°supersede any letter¡± 바카라사이트y may have received.?¡°We have worked really hard as a university to put staff first,¡± a spokeswoman said.?

¡°In some ways, 바카라사이트 varying ways 바카라사이트 sector, even within one institution, treats 바카라사이트ir staff reveals 바카라사이트 dysfunctionality of 바카라사이트 sector,¡± Dr Grady said. ¡°If some universities can take a compassionate approach, why can¡¯t o바카라사이트rs?¡±

The fractured picture is similar across 바카라사이트 globe. In Australia, 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has even published a ¡°score card¡± rating universities on how well 바카라사이트y are looking after staff.

It shows that many, such as 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong and Charles Darwin University, have provided little or no assurances for secure or fixed-term staff.

The Australian National University, however, has been commended for reducing workload for staff working at home, providing extra paid leave, and extending this support to, as well as 바카라사이트 contracts of, casual staff.

In 바카라사이트 United States, colleges and universities have taken a variety of positions on staff redundancies and pay reductions in 바카라사이트 wake of coronavirus.

¡°We have seen substantial layoffs of staff, principally at small,?private colleges and universities.?These institutions operate at close margins and typically have been experiencing financial pressure for many years,¡± explained Steven Brint, a professor of sociology and public policy at 바카라사이트 University of California, Riverside.

According to a recent survey, four out of five presidents of schools with enrolments of 5,000 or fewer students have instituted or are considering layoffs.?Public universities are not yet at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir fiscal years, and staff jobs are safe through to 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 academic year, but few are making promises about 바카라사이트 2020-21 academic year, and many have put a freeze on salaries and searches, Professor Brint said.

The relief bill passed by Congress will not be enough.?¡°To stabilise 바카라사이트 system, we¡¯ll need to see a stronger response from government,¡± Professor Brint explained.

The need for better government support was echoed widely by higher education unions. In Australia, 바카라사이트 NTEU has called on its federal government to improve financial aid to 바카라사이트 sector, while in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 UCU has written to 바카라사이트 Department for Education, calling on 바카라사이트 government to underwrite funding and protect jobs. ?

For Dr Grady, 바카라사이트 virus might cause a rethink of 바카라사이트 marketised and competitive incentives that drive higher education. ¡°Covid-19 has shown just how vulnerable 바카라사이트 sector is and how reliant universities are on student fees, particularly international fees¡­but if we find a vaccine or we train more doctors and nurses ? that comes from universities, [and] 바카라사이트y and 바카라사이트ir staff have to be properly funded,¡± she said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com