Furlough?

[AlwaysColdHands]

I haven’t heard any mutters of this at my institution (although I don’t proclaim to have my ear to the ground that much) but my friend elsewhere says a good thousand or so staff are doing this at hers, including some academics.
Just wondered out of curiosity what’s occurring at various institutions? Pure nosiness really I guess 😂

We are, I think a lot are. It's more the cleaners, caterers, unison staff but also some admin and academic (also redeployed to nhs as volunteers)

We are. A local newspaper has stated it will be for 'commercial' staff only and no academics are going to be furloughed. I don't see how they could furlough any academics at the moment as the semester doesn't end for another 6 weeks and we'll be furiously marking work for another month.

We are, professional staff only atm. Find it hard to believe academic staff will be furloughed atm as workloads are insane and they want to keep students happy. I have students all over summer so that would not work to furlough me and others in my team I guess.

Yes, it makes sense for lots of non-academic staff. We’ve been doing a lot of voluntary redundancy over the last few months so I would be surprised if my institution wasn’t taking advantage of this too.

I’ll just carry on having secret fantasies about someone furloughing me and making all my teaching and supervision disappear.....it’s a nice refuge from trying to do it all with young children around 🙄😱😬

Where I work (in PS) they're furloughing - only non-academic staff currently, but there has been talk about staff on research contracts and/or research leave who can't actually do their research. I don't see how you could furlough staff with teaching responsibilities now.

Anyway, if you're working furiously now it doesn't seem likely you'll be furloughed! I think a couple of people on my team were secretly hopeful but they were always going to be disappointed as the nature of our work means it's massively increased at the moment and a lot of the covid mitigation work goes through us.

Our extremely helpful research support manager has been furloughed; this may be due to inability to carry out her job for childcare reasons though.
I have extreme childcare issues and did consider asking (but I don't think I will) even though I again am mega busy.

I think my university is offering furlough to those with serious childcare issues. I did consider it as my kids are a bit neglected and the workload is very high now, but I think on balance having work to do is keeping me sane. Ask again after I've delivered a load of online content and I might change my mind though

I have been furloughed (work for a London rg). Ten out of about 45 in the division have been furloughed. Profit services so not academics. It’s really worrying tbh. I know the university has furloughed across other divisions too

Professional

Sorry to hear about that. In the past 10 years, the increase in students/foreign students has not led to more academic hiring with permanent contract. In fact, the expansion is mainly related to professional service. So furlough occurs in the latter units is very likely.

I would love to be furloughed right now! We can't go on like this indefinitely. We have two children in KS1, both require constant supervision.