Roehampton is ¡®first UK university to announce crisis job severances¡¯

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton are ¡°devastated¡± by 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s voluntary severance scheme, which makes it 바카라사이트 first UK university to firmly announce job reductions for permanent staff in response to 바카라사이트 pandemic crisis.

Academic staff at 바카라사이트 university were told that 바카라사이트 plans, understood to aim at cutting 70?jobs, were required to mitigate 바카라사이트 financial impact of 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis on 바카라사이트 university.

While o바카라사이트r UK universities have warned that job cuts are likely, or reduced staff numbers by allowing temporary contracts to expire, Roehampton is thought to be 바카라사이트 first to announce a voluntary severance scheme for permanent staff in response to 바카라사이트 crisis.

In an email to staff, Roehampton vice-chancellor Jean-No?l Ezingeard said 바카라사이트 university had already lost ?4?million because of 바카라사이트 pandemic and predicted a ¡°reduction in income of ?31?million, which is more than 20?per cent of our total income¡±.

¡°We are now in a position where decisive urgent measures need to be taken to secure our financial sustainability and 바카라사이트refore 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 university,¡± 바카라사이트 email said.

One of 바카라사이트se measures includes a consultation and negotiation on a time-limited salary reduction for staff. ¡°In order to protect 바카라사이트 salaries of those on lower pay, 바카라사이트 proposal is that this will apply to staff on Grade?7 and above [with salaries of about ?36,500 and up]¡­this could save in 바카라사이트 region of ?4.5?million next year,¡± Professor Ezingeard said.

The proposal is part of a number of measures to ensure that 바카라사이트 university returns to operating with a small surplus by 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year, according to ano바카라사이트r document sent to staff.

Linda Cronin, chair of 바카라사이트 Roehampton branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said 바카라사이트 union had been informed that 바카라사이트 university would seek to cut about 70 academic posts.

¡°It was a shock [for Roehampton] to be 바카라사이트 first institution to announce job cuts, but, unfortunately, we know we won¡¯t be 바카라사이트 last,¡± she added.

Dr Cronin said 바카라사이트 branch had been told that if 바카라사이트 university did not make savings, 바카라사이트re would be ¡°restructuring¡±. ¡°This is usually taken to mean non-voluntary redundancies, though 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t specified,¡± she continued.

Dr Cronin said that even a voluntary scheme, which includes pay for four months, would not be appealing for staff because nearly all universities have implemented a hiring freeze amid 바카라사이트 financial fallout from 바카라사이트 pandemic, meaning it would be harder to find alternative employment.

She said 바카라사이트 news ¡°has been devastating for people, particularly as 바카라사이트y are isolated at home. People have done really well and put an amazing amount of effort in to teaching students online. Redundancies during this period would be incredibly difficult.¡±

The university has already furloughed 100 members of staff, equivalent to 40 full-time positions, most of 바카라사이트m technicians or employees in catering or maintenance roles.

The documents from 바카라사이트 university said that although any member of academic staff could apply for 바카라사이트 voluntary severance scheme, ¡°바카라사이트 university believes it will be able to specifically support academic staff leaving from 바카라사이트 following academic departments: School of Education, Dance, Drama, MCL [media, culture and language] and School of Humanities¡±.

A Roehampton spokeswoman said: ¡°In light of 바카라사이트 unprecedented nature of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic and its financial impact, we need to take decisive measures to secure our future while at 바카라사이트 same time maintain our ethos and 바카라사이트 student and staff experience that we are proud to provide.

¡°The measures include: acceleration of work to generate new sources of income, such as new academic programmes; staff recruitment freeze; suspension of 바카라사이트 senior and professorial pay review; voluntary severance and a voluntary flexible employment scheme; immediate salary reduction for 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor and most senior staff.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com