Redundancies at the University of Birmingham

[supermum52]

Hi everyone,

The University of Birmingham has just announced its voluntary leavers scheme which is quite a generous package. I stand to gain 72,000, 30000 of which is tax-free. I am 52 years of age with two teenagers, aged 13 and 16 who are also very demanding. I am really fed up with the culture of overwork and stress at UoB and have wanted to leave for quite some time. At the same time, it is a well-paying job. The leavers package really tempts me. Any advice on the direction I should take would be appreciated.

When I was in this situation 3 years back, admittedly a couple of years older than you, I could not get near a new job in academia. I am very well known in my field...but felt once you hit 50s you are too expensive and they would rather get you to do a guest lecture now and again. I therefore decided to cling on until the ax falls. The employment situation in UKHE is even worse now.

Academia is certainly ageist: they nearly always prefer the bright young thing to the more experienced academic. Has anyone succeeded in getting another job after redundancy? I would be interested to know of your experienced.

I know two people who have gone on to RA type roles after voluntary redundancy. It’s been a mixed bag for them (frustrating not to be treated as senior as you feel), but I don’t think either regret having left previously toxic environments.
Whether you can count on such a role probably depends on how much soft money is sloshing around your discipline…

I had no idea uni redundancy would be so generous. Wow!

I think academia isn't that bad in comparison to business when it comes to agism. Yes, if you lose a job, it's hard to get a new one. However, it actually has people in their 50s and 60s unlike other sectors. Trouble is the whole sector is falling apart.

I think that's your answer then.

I guess figure out what else you might do, and you can see the payout as subsiding a lower income for a while?

Also think about how you might feel in 6 months time if you stay, doing the workloads of others who have left, and then being offered a fraction of the amount?

Yeah, It is an exceptional package.

Definitely, an unbearable workload and statutory redundancy will await me if I do not take it. There are no winners in a situation like this.

Sounds like you have been thinking of working abroad for a while, this is your push. Most of us stay in a job that isn't particularly enjoyable because its comfortable and we can guarantee the money coming in every month. This is the answer to you prayers!
As someone who also works in education I assume like me your probably restricted to doing everything outside of term time, the first thing id do is take advantage of the cheaper holiday rates and book a lovely break. Good luck!

Some people I know who lost jobs in Uni if Brighton got temp contracts abroad or in UK. They are younger than me. Not great outcomes, but better than unemployment.

Take it. That is way, way better than our university is offering (although we don't have significant financial difficulties). Also once you hit 55 there are potential complications re the tax free element if you choose to retire rather than look for another job so you potentially lose the £30k tax free sum. Take it now whilst you can.

Interesting to know about the tax free implications over 55. I will certainly take that cheap holiday after all this palaver.My heart is telling me to take it.

I worked at UoB over a decade ago, in a leadership role that had me dealing with the Vice-Chancelloriate most weeks. I left (allowed myself to be headhunted elsewhere) because I felt that if I stayed, I'd have had a stroke or a heart attack - the senior academic management style is macho brutalism. Where I am now is not a part of the country that I really want to live in, but my School is brilliant & management don't add nails to the sticks they beat us with.

I could never take redundancy (it is entirely a vocation for me) but I got out of UoB, so you're probably wise to do so when you can!

That’s better than my DH who got just over 50k, you are being offered a deal that seems around the same as the University of Nottingham, I used to work there and have colleagues who have been offered this kind of amount. I retired early through ill health a few years ago. On a personal level he was glad of the deal but sad at the state of HE. DH and I met at the UoB in the library so it has a special place in my heart.

Is that 12 months salary? Other schemes I'm aware of have had lots less, like 2 or 3 months, so it might not be on offer at that amount in the next round if it comes.

It is 14 months salary. It is capped at 60 weeks.

Are there any pension cost implications for the university in relation to your age? Some places if you're 55 or over they have to pay up your 'lost' future contributions, but I've heard it's over 50 years of age at some institutions. The longer you are from retirement age the larger the sum they have to pay ("pension strain") and therefore might be reluctant to accept your application.

You are almost certain not to get another academic job (as, obviously, there are lots and lots on the job market and you are expensive). If you have an idea of something else you would like to do then go for it. This is about a year’s money with debts cleared - a bit of time for thinking space but not masses. I’d be cautious

They have clarified that pension contributions cease upon leaving. They have not referred to any lost age dependent pension contributions. However, now that you mention It, I Will query It. Thanks.

This is only the case with the LGPS. University of Birmingham will be USS

I've heard it in relation to a university that has USS and SAUL, not LGPS.

Godspeed to you @supermum52 but I would heed the PPs who say that another academic post might not be forthcoming. You could start looking about you to see if there are posts emerging, but
a) it's very hard to land a job at a lower level when you've been at a senior level /salary - unless it is a post at that level - depending on your discipline there are still a few Chairs around, if you're already at that level?
b) I've just appointed some postdocs, and frankly I might have had an issue with someone dropping down to that post/salary - it would have been a concern around staying in the post, or gradually becoming dissatisfied with working on my research project

Unfortunately we're at the early stage of the next REF cycle - posts might ease up in a couple of years in the lead up to 2029 - around 2027/2028. But that's probably too late for you.

I am currently at associate professor level- not too intimidating. Thanks for pointing out all the risks, which are all valid. I am going to reflect on them all and also my ability to withstand the consequences of whatever decision I make.

Well you heard wrong in relation to USS

Wow, that's pretty amazing! The max I've heard of elsewhere was 12 months.

I guess with £30k being tax free, that's probably the equivalent of about 20 months take home?

Or the other way to look at it, is if it cleared your mortgage or similar, how free would that leave you to work part time until retirement? Or something lower paid?

I agree with PP that the job market isn't looking great. However, there are definitely opportunities still, but very discipline dependent.