Bryant University lays off some nonunion employees

SMITHFIELD -- Bryant University has laid off approximately 3% of its regular, nonunion employees, according to a letter to staff from President Ross Gittell.

“Counting both these permanent reductions and involuntary full furloughs we have reduced our overall workforce by approximately four percent,” he wrote. “An additional two percent of our full-time staff and faculty have taken advantage of a voluntary retirement program, which enabled us to mitigate the number of involuntary exits.”

The Journal has asked Bryant to provide the actual number of staff reductions.

Gittell wrote that even by “the standard of tough times, today has been a very difficult day for our University. ... Bryant’s financial position is stronger than many institutions of higher education, but we are not immune to extremely challenging public health and economic world conditions.”

Bryant University, he wrote, has been forced to address significant revenue shortfalls and expense increases directly related to the pandemic.

The layoffs take effect Monday.

“While our position of comparative strength speaks to the strength of the University and puts us in a solid position to enter the fall and manage through this, it is still impactful and painful,” Gittell wrote.

“We are trying our very best to maintain our current plans for campus reopening and avoid any further reductions,” he continued. “This is not all within our control, as the pandemic’s impact on our operations continues to unfold and will ultimately determine the operational and budgetary steps we might have to take in the weeks and months ahead.”

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