Front of house part-time staff working in UCD Village have been informed that they will be made redundant from March 2nd.
Front of house part-time staff working in UCD Village have been informed that they will be made redundant from March 2nd. The employees were made aware of the redundancies on December 17th, during the Christmas exam period. The workers impacted have received no formal communication related to the redundancies - all information has been communicated via their staff Whatsapp group chat, and given by team leads as opposed to management.
The front of house (FOH) staff in UCD Village cover the reception desk and gym desk at the UCD Village.
Initially, on December 12th, staff were informed via Whatsapp that there would be a reduction in the number of hours available for them by around 50%. In the message, seen by the University Observer, a team lead stated that, “Important change communicated to us by UCD. From January, they will be significantly reducing the number of available shifts. This means overall hours will be cut, and part-time and non-full-time staff will be impacted the most.” Almost all of the staff on part-time contracts are UCD students.
Within a week, it was further communicated that all staff will be let go within the next number of months. On the 17th of December, they were informed via the Whatsapp group that there would be an “official statement in the coming weeks”. As of January 27th, no such statement has been issued.
On the 17th of December, they were informed via the Whatsapp group that there would be an “official statement in the coming weeks”. As of January 27th, no such statement has been issued.
In further updates revealed to the employees via Whatsapp, staff had their hours drastically reduced earlier this month ahead of their total job loss in March. Their roles will be filled by Campus assistants, who are currently being trained into the roles by the FOH staff. The staff, who are officially employed by ISS World but claim all their management comes from UCD Estates, were informed of their job losses after the application window to become a Campus Assistant closed. According to multiple forms of communication from UCD Estates, the application period for Campus Assistant positions closed on November 24th - nineteen days before the FOH staff were made aware of their redundancies on December 12th. Based upon the standard hiring calendar that the Campus Assistant positions follow, it is likely that the next hiring period will be for staff starting in the next academic year - that is, in the coming September.
FOH staff were initially told they would be made redundant as of 7th of March. On the 23rd of January, a team lead informed the staff via the Whatsapp channel that this date was now being moved to the 2nd of March, and further stating that, “ISS will be sending out a letter next week.”
Timeline:
- November 24th: Campus Assistant Applications close
- December 4th: Campus Assistant interviews finish
- December 12th: FOH staff informed of 50% reduction
- December 17th: FOH staff informed of 100% reduction
One FOH student employee claimed, “While we technically work for a contractor that UCD hire, UCD control everything. Since summer they have been cutting and changing the hours. They decrease them one month and then increase it the next Month. UCD would complain that there are gaps in the roster, see us hire new staff to fill the gaps and then the next months cut the shifts.”
Speaking on the impact of the job losses and the timing of the announcement, another FOH student employee said, “This job isn’t just a paycheck for me—it’s how I pay my rent and keep my life stable. So, when we were all suddenly told we were getting fired during exam period, it hit me hard. The timing was awful, and the stress it caused has been overwhelming.” They continued, “What makes it even more painful is that we haven’t even received a formal sack letter from the head of ISS yet. That lack of communication feels disrespectful and adds to the uncertainty. And to see new staff being hired to replace us? It’s clear this wasn’t about funding or budget cuts. It feels personal . . . It’s hard not to take it to heart when you’ve given so much and then are pushed out without proper explanation or respect.”
“This job isn’t just a paycheck for me—it’s how I pay my rent and keep my life stable. So, when we were all suddenly told we were getting fired during exam period, it hit me hard. The timing was awful, and the stress it caused has been overwhelming.”
The University Observer spoke to one Campus Assistant who is currently being trained by the FOH team in replacing the FOH role. “The place is going to go to ruin when they leave. They’re so quick, they’re so professional, they’re so great at their job. It's going to be noticeable how different estates do their job once they leave.” The individual noted that Campus Assistants and the FOH team fulfil distinct roles, and that extensive training would be required for the Campus Assistant team to replace the FOH staff.
One FOH student employee stated, “Essentially you are working and training people. People who are going to take your job.” They continued, “There is so much that can be said [about] how UCD treat us. It’s almost like they forgot that we are UCD students as well.”
“There is so much that can be said [about] how UCD treat us. It’s almost like they forgot that we are UCD students as well.”
Another FOH student employee added, “I feel as though we have been left in the dark with no confirmation as to why we have been not absorbed by UCD and we are continuing to be phased out without any form of communication with UCD Estates management. Additionally, I find it very frustrating that new CA recruitment for the second semester went underway before Christmas and there was no advertisement for existing FOH staff when they knew that our contract was ending. We are very qualified for the role of Campus Assistant and very little, if any, new training would be needed for UCD to hire us.”
They continued, “I also find it disheartening that Campus Assistants are being rostered to work on the front desk as it seems as though we are having to unofficially train our CA colleagues in our final remaining shifts when that is not included in our contract or responsibilities as an ISS service operative.”
UCD have been contacted for comment.