'Golden handshake' | University offers staff six months' pay to quit their jobs

A university has offered staff a ‘golden handshake’ to quit their jobs and take six months’ salary if they don’t want to follow ambitious plans for the future.

Birmingham Live reports that Professor David Mba, Vice Chancellor of Birmingham City University (BCU), has made the offer to employees following the recent launch of ‘Strategy 2030’, a plan which aims to raise the quality of teaching and education performance at the institution.

Staff will have until the end of March to apply for the Mutually Assured Resignation (MARS) scheme, which reportedly promises six months' salary for anyone who has worked at the Midlands university for at least two years. It is an entirely voluntary scheme, the university added.

University chief 'respectfully encourages' staff to consider leaving their roles

Professor Mba told workers it was “imperative” that, amid the big changes, employees were “wholly committed to our direction” and urged workers to “consider this scheme very carefully, as a positive opportunity."