COVID–19 — UBC planning update

If you are a manager of staff whose work is not computer-based, please print this email and display it in a common work area for them to review.

As you know, earlier this week a UBC Broadcast was sent out confirming the continuation of Remote Work Arrangements until further notice, in keeping with the guidelines of the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Thank you again for all the work that has been done through this transition, to safeguard the health and safety of the UBC community.

The decision to extend Remote Work Arrangements is consistent with the direction provided to public sector employers by the provincial government this week. This is in follow-up to information provided by the Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat (PSEC Secretariat) in March. As part of this direction, PSEC Secretariat has provided guidance regarding the principles that should be followed in making staffing decisions, as the situation regarding COVID-19 evolves.

These principles recognize that employers across the public sector are being affected in different ways and require flexibility in planning and managing staffing decisions. We know that some employers have had operations affected due to revenue reductions and changes in service delivery levels.

For post-secondary institutions within BC, the factors affecting budget planning are not yet determined and this is true for UBC. For example, it is still too early to know how travel and physical distancing restrictions related to COVID-19 will affect the levels of both domestic and international enrolment.

On our UBC campuses, many services are dependent on enrolment and on-campus activities. We know that we will experience budget challenges, and we will take every step to mitigate the effect on staffing and operations. This is also why it is so important now that everyone across the university minimizes all discretionary spending.

For the immediate term, and until we have a clear financial and operational picture for the university, we do not anticipate making any changes to our staffing levels. We will work together with you, and with our unions, and we are committed to communicating regularly as we move forward.

Peter Smailes
Vice-President, Finance & Operations

Marcia Buchholz
Vice-President, Human Resources

Deborah Buszard
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UBC Okanagan

Andrew Szeri
Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver


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