University of Alaska announces mass human resource layoffs

[TexasTowelie]

The University of Alaska will be laying off 48 human resources employees in a recently announced system-wide overhaul of the university’s HR departments. Notices were issued Monday but are not set to go into effect until September.

UA President Jim Johnsen announced the changes in an email to university employees Monday and in which he pushed a “redesign” versus “merger” message amid concern within the university community over the mass layoff.

“This is not a merger — it is a complete redesign based on best practices in higher education, which will lead to increased efficiencies that ultimately serve you better,” Johnsen wrote in the email. “We want to make our search for new talent more efficient and our onboarding of new employees more effective.”

According to UA Spokeswoman Robbie Graham, there are currently 51 HR positions in the university system. Of those, 48 were given layoff notices; 14 of those positions were at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Read more: http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/university-of-alaska-announces-mass-human-resource-layoffs/article_8765b078-7165-11e9-b5be-ef28db8be514.html
(Fairbanks Newsminer)

[Sherman A1]

1. Wow

So pretty much every one is out the door. Sad for the folks being let go, but HR is yet another field that will see itself replaced by AI, consolidation and outsourcing.

[TexasTowelie]

2. It's cheaper to outsource HR than pay for employees, provide benefits, and pensions.

Less people are needed to screen resumes compared to the past since a computer can search for key words and phrases. to identify the top candidates.

The last job interview that I went to, the only thing that the HR director did was turn on the camera for the interview. She gave a brief introduction, but didn't ask any of the questions. The four technical people (primarily managers) directed all of the questions.

[woodsprite]

3. Wow! Seems like a large HR dept

Where I work, I think we have around 25k students, 4-5K fac/staff/misc wage workers on 4 campuses, and our HR, Comp and Benefits, and Payroll groups added together are around 45 people. We do have “HR liasons” in each dept - essentially a dept secretary or admin asst who handles their depts HR paperwork.

It’s a shame they couldn’t use them someplace else in the University rather than laying them off. Hopefully some will be able to retire early, if they let them.