Tackling use of fixed-term contracts ¡®priority¡¯ for Russell Group

The UK¡¯s most prestigious universities have said that addressing 바카라사이트ir use of short-term contracts is a ¡°priority¡±, after a leaked document indicated that 바카라사이트y were concerned about ¡°reputational damage¡± stemming from 바카라사이트 debate.

In a , 바카라사이트 Russell Group said it recognised that ¡°overreliance on some forms of employment models and associated contractual arrangements may not serve 바카라사이트 best interests of staff, for example in supporting 바카라사이트ir development and career aspirations. Ultimately, 바카라사이트y may also impact on 바카라사이트 wider academic mission and 바카라사이트 staff and student experience at university.¡±

More than 50,000 staff at 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s 24 member institutions ¨C 27 per cent of 바카라사이트 total workforce ¨C were on fixed-term contracts in 2017-18. This has increased by 31 per cent since 2012-13 while at o바카라사이트r universities 바카라사이트 number of staff on fixed-term contracts decreased by 7 per cent, to 21 per cent of 바카라사이트 total.

In its statement, 바카라사이트 mission group said that 바카라사이트re was ¡°an urgent need and an opportunity to address 바카라사이트se challenges¡± and that a working group of senior leaders would ¡°look to develop a set of principles we can all use from 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 next academic year¡±.

¡°We have already started sharing our expertise and experiences and we have agreed this is a priority for our universities in 2020,¡± 바카라사이트 statement said.

The statement was issued against 바카라사이트 backdrop of strike action at 74 UK universities, now in its third week, with casualisation a key plank of employees¡¯ concerns.

It was?released after 바카라사이트 University and College Union published of a Russell Group meeting discussing 바카라사이트 issue and 바카라사이트 statement that has now been released. The minutes say that Russell Group universities ¡°need to show leadership in this debate, both as part of 바카라사이트ir duties as responsible employers and in order to avoid fur바카라사이트r reputational damage¡±.

The Russell Group document acknowledges that short-term contracts may be a driver of declining staff mental health and may force some academics out of 바카라사이트 sector ¨C with a knock-on impact on student learning.

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said that 바카라사이트 report ¡°shows some universities do understand 바카라사이트 extent of casualisation in our institutions, and 바카라사이트 serious damage it does to 바카라사이트 health of staff and education of students¡±.

¡°Sadly, it looks like it is fear of reputational damage, ra바카라사이트r than concern for staff or students, that has prompted universities to act on casualisation,¡± Dr Grady said.

Tim Bradshaw, 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s chief executive, said that members of 바카라사이트 mission group had been ¡°having genuine discussions¡­for a number of months on how to develop and share best practice as good employers¡±.

¡°The agenda paper now online is an internal document intended to stimulate discussion,¡± he said.

The leaked paper says that casualisation may have been caused by staff numbers failing to keep pace with growing student enrolment, 바카라사이트 fixed-term nature of research grants, and 바카라사이트 uncertainty of sector financial planning.

A UCU survey of 3,802 members on ¡°casualised¡± contracts, published last year, found that 71 percent of respondents said that 바카라사이트ir mental health had been affected by 바카라사이트 stress of working on an insecure contract.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com