Despite commitments to avoid compulsory redundancies and clear risks to September teaching, Sheffield Hallam University Executive Board has shown no leniency in their current raft of job cuts.
Staff affected by the current wave of redundancies have faced what UCU Hallam describes as a flawed and inconsistent process. Individuals have been identified for redundancy at course level without clear, timely justification. Rationales for cuts to specific courses were initially not even provided. Cuts are being pursued even where courses have healthy student numbers and rely on retaining experienced, professionally qualified staff.
Only after a collective grievance was explored, did management provide a written rationale – one which UCU says contained vague reasoning and, in some cases, incorrect information. The university also attempted to assess staff against a job description that had not yet been implemented, a move challenged successfully by UCU. Concerns have also been raised about inaccurate data and repeated changes to key documentation, including assessment criteria.
A UCU spokesperson said:
“This process has been concerning from the outset. We have yet to see any clear, evidence-based rationale for the severe cuts being pursued by the University Executive Board. What we are witnessing is management through organisational chaos.
The stress this has placed on loyal, hard-working staff has been deeply distressing. These are colleagues who have given their all to teaching and research, only to be told they are no longer wanted – that they are surplus to requirements.
The promise of a meaningful academic career has been broken.”
Despite earlier commitments to avoid compulsory redundancies, the University Executive Board has shown no flexibility in continuing job cuts, even after significant uptake of voluntary redundancy by staff.
A UCU member leaving under the ongoing cuts said:
“Devastating, I burst into tears. I didn’t want to go. I’m still mourning the job, the place, and the people I love, and I feel genuinely scared about what comes next. But it’s done now, and I’ll just have to try and make the best of it.”
A UCU member said:
“Whilst my job is currently safe, it feels bittersweet given that many of my brilliant colleagues are going or remain at risk of compulsory redundancy. Looking ahead to September, I already have modules without enough staff to teach them. We’ve also lost vital expertise – research-active, policy-impacting colleagues and former practitioners with industry connections. It’s hard to see how this won’t affect both staff and students.”
UCU Hallam is calling on the University Executive Board to:
- Halt compulsory redundancies
- Provide a clear, evidence-based case for cuts, including student–staff ratios
- Engage transparently with staff and the union