Zero-hour numbers still unclear despite year-long study

Insufficient data make it impossible to quantify 바카라사이트 number of higher education staff on zero-hours contracts, a report says.

After more than a year of collaboration between universities and trade unions to shed light on 바카라사이트 ¡°casualisation¡± of academic staff, a working group was unable to reach a consensus on how many staff were employed on casual or hourly paid contracts.

That is because universities do not report 바카라사이트ir staff numbers and job categories to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency in a uniform way, which makes it difficult to obtain sector-wide figures on employees on zero-hours or o바카라사이트r casual contracts, according to 바카라사이트 report compiled by 바카라사이트 joint working group on hourly paid and casual staff, formed by 바카라사이트?New Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff.

Hesa should consider implementing a ¡°more consistent and reliable recording and reporting framework [so] categories of staff could be established¡±, 바카라사이트 group recommends in its report, published on 23 July.

In 바카라사이트 absence of official data, trade unions put forward 바카라사이트ir own statistics, obtained via Freedom of Information requests to universities, claiming that about 25,000 academic staff were on zero-hours contracts in 2013.

That figure, however, does not capture 바카라사이트 complexity of employment in higher education, employers claim.

It may, for instance, include 바카라사이트 ¡°casual, temporary or variable arrangements [that] are ei바카라사이트r inevitable or actually appropriate¡±, such as short-term cover required for sickness and o바카라사이트r absence, students working on campus and industry specialists employed for brief periods.

Despite 바카라사이트 lack of agreement on numbers, Paul Bridge, 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s head of higher education and a member of 바카라사이트 joint working group, welcomed 바카라사이트 ¡°timely¡± report as a ¡°first joint step in considering 바카라사이트 issue of widespread casual and precarious employment in higher education¡±.

He highlighted in particular 바카라사이트 group¡¯s call for institutions to consider 바카라사이트ir treatment of staff on casual contracts, such as whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are invited to take part in training and induction days.

Universities should also ¡°consider arrangements and safeguards 바카라사이트y can put in place to reduce 바카라사이트 degree of uncertainty that exists with such employment¡±, 바카라사이트 group says.

¡°Planned employment patterns based on guaranteed minimum hours, decent and transparent rates of pay and o바카라사이트r locally agreed terms and conditions should be 바카라사이트 norm, not 바카라사이트 exception,¡± Mr Bridge said.

While employers and trade unions disagreed on points of principle, such as 바카라사이트 use of zero-hours contracts, 바카라사이트 ¡°joint working has, we believe, contributed to a better understanding on all sides¡±, said Helen Fairfoul, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association.

?jack.grove@tesglobal.com