Staff engagement poll questions
Reducing staff costs
Staff were asked to indicate on a scale of 1-5 whether they were in favour, or against the suggestions below, as a cost saving measure for the University of Sussex, in relation to reducing staff costs.
Q1 Opening the Voluntary Severance Scheme for a second time
Q2 Allowing staff to apply for a reduction in working hours and pay for a time limited period up to 12 months:
- By a 20% reduction eg 4 day week for full-time staff and pro rata reduction for part-time staff (this would save circa £28m if 100% of staff accepted)
- By a 10% reduction eg 9 day fortnight for full-time staff and pro rata reduction for part-time staff (this would save circa £14m if 100% of staff accepted).
Q3 If either of the reductions in working hours and pay outlined in Q2 were proposed for all staff on a voluntary basis as necessary to meet a budgetary shortfall and to avoid redundancies, would you seriously consider them?
- Yes
- No
Q4 Unpaid sabbaticals for academic staff or career breaks for professional services staff of 6 or 12 months with a guaranteed return
Q5 Enable staff to buy additional annual leave (sometimes known as an annual leave purchase scheme)
Q6 Allow staff to move onto reduced year contracts, for example, term-time only working
Q7 Voluntary pay cuts for a time-limited period, no longer than 12 months, only applying to staff with an annual salary of (the savings would only be realised if all staff in the relevant group took this up):
- £50,000 and above (at a 10% reduction for twelve months, this would save £7.9m)
- £70,000 and above (at a 10% reduction, this would save £3.9m)
- £100,000 and above (at a 10% reduction, this would save £1.4m)
Q8 Voluntary pay cuts for a time-limited period, no longer than 12 months, only applying to staff with a grade threshold of:
- Grade 10 and above (£3.3m saving, at a 10% reduction)
- Grade 9 and above (£6m saving, at a 10% reduction)
- Grade 8 and above (£8.6m saving, at a 10% reduction)
- Grade 7 and above (£11.4m saving, at a 10% reduction)
Q9 Implement a one year freeze on annual pay increments in October 2021, applying to all staff who are not already at the top of their salary scale (this would save circa £1.5m)
Q10 Not run the next academic promotions process due to open for applications in early 2021 (this would save circa £700k)
Q11 Not run the next Discretionary Pay Review (DPR) process for 2020 / 21 (this would save circa £680k)
Improving Efficiency
Please indicate the extent to which you are in favour of the following as measures to improve efficiency for the University of Sussex.
We appreciate that not all staff will have the desired background information but at this stage we are endeavouring to get a sense of support. If you do not feel able to answer a question, please leave it blank and move to the next one.
Q12 Identify and reduce the number of under-subscribed modules taught at Sussex
Q13 Move as many exams as possible to online only
Q14 Reduce duplication and streamline administrative processes
Q15 Make more efficient use of space and facilities on Campus
Q16 Centralise core activities and functions such as purchasing to realise economies of scale, for example, equipment and consumables
Q17 Reduce variety of software and technology used so that staff and students use a smaller suite of products, allowing the University to save on licencing and other purchasing costs