A key part of the remit of the Group is to consider the contractual arrangements that the University has in place for staff, and specifically the arrangements for Temporary Services and Guaranteed Minimum Hours contracts. This is also a topic included in dialogue at a national level through New JNCHES (including stopping the use of Zero Hours contracts).
The University has taken steps to move away from the use of Zero Hours contracts and the Group recently agreed new guidance for Temporary Services and Guaranteed Minimum Hours contracts, with the aim of ensuring that they are only used in appropriate circumstances. This included new minimum threshold hours for Academic (30 hours) and Professional Services (20 hours) posts with any exemptions having to be approved. In addition the guidance includes a commitment to offering the option for staff to transfer to alternative contracts, if there is a consistency in the hours worked and there is an ongoing requirement for these hours.
Work is ongoing to monitor the effectiveness of the guidance which is being piloted during this academic year.