Universities pressuring staff to work on campus for a ‘vibrant’ atmosphere

Universities have received a strong level of criticism for pressuring staff to work on campus so a “vibrant” atmosphere can be created.

The measures come as universities seek to ensure students have no reason to justify asking for any kind of tuition fee refund, according to the Guardian.

Employees in administrative roles at Staffordshire and Birmingham Universities have stated that they were threatened with disciplinary action if they didn’t work on campus.

An email from Liz Barnes, vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University, stated that: “Unlike the ‘national lockdown’ earlier in the year, we do not have the same protections against students seeking financial redress if their experience is reduced.

“This means, that if we do not provide the full campus experience to students, albeit in a different way, then students potentially could seek refunds from us. I do not need to highlight the significant impact that such a situation would pose to our income.”

Branches of the University and College Union (UCU) at numerous universities, including Birmingham, Warwick, St Andrews and Edinburgh, have threatened strike action as a result of health and safety concerns posed by staff working on campus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Staffordshire University’s policy has argued that “for most staff, the majority of time will normally be spent on the campus”.

A Staffordshire University staff member told the Guardian that all staff would face disciplinary action if they didn’t go into the office three days a week.

Universities are transmission hotspots, so it’s disappointing that Staffordshire and Birmingham universities are risking the health of their employees by pressuring them on to campus when there’s no need for them to be there

– Jo Grady

An email from Tim Jones, provost of the University of Birmingham, has stated that directors have the power to demand their employees are present in-person.

Birmingham University staff members have already stated the categories of those required to work on campus are too vague, with a poll by the staff network showing 92% could do their work from home.

The vice-chancellor of Birmingham University stated that staff should work on campus from the autumn so students “feel part of our vibrant community”.

The general secretary of the UCU, Jo Grady, has stated that, if Birmingham fails to change its position, “we will be moving towards a ballot for industrial action”.

Dr Grady also argued that: “Universities are transmission hotspots, so it’s disappointing that Staffordshire and Birmingham universities are risking the health of their employees by pressuring them on to campus when there’s no need for them to be there.”

A spokesperson for the University of Birmingham stated that the university has “provided clear guidance about who needs to be on campus and who does not, whilst also noting the university is complex, and with 8,000 staff, line managers are often best placed to assess the local needs of their division”.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Staffordshire University has stated that: “During the lockdown period it was clear from a survey completed by nearly a third of our staff that whilst day-to-day activities could be completed remotely inter- and intra-team working were impacted along with our longer-term development plans.”

The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that, while “universities are ultimately autonomous and responsible for their own staffing decisions”, the government expects “them to make sure staff are as safe as possible”.