The University of Sussex’s plans to cut at least 200 jobs is causing “huge anxiety” among staff, a union has claimed, especially as about 500 workers have already left the institution.
A 45-day consultation has begun over the plans, which could see job losses in both academic and professional services departments, including in admissions, student support and IT services.
But Unison has argued that, given the university has already lost 500 staff in the past year through a voluntary redundancy scheme, the planned changes will increase the “strain and uncertainty” on remaining staff.
The university said that it is looking to cut 200 full-time equivalent staff, and that it is looking to save about £35 million from its annual spend. The union noted that the job cuts could impact 240 staff in total.
A total of 17 jobs are also at risk at the university’s students’ union and 12 at the Institute of Development Studies.
