We have received a lot of questions regarding ASOS, so we have produced a quick reference guide to summarise some key points.

• What does ASOS involve?
• What kinds of things are ‘voluntary’ activities?
• What if I fall behind on my work as a result of ASOS?
• Should I cut corners to complete my work?
• Should I skip breaks to catch up on my work?
• I’m giving a presentation about my research soon. Is this a voluntary activity that should be cancelled?
• My line manager is putting me under a lot of pressure to perform beyond my contracted duties. What should I do?

What does ASOS involve?

ASOS involves working strictly to our contracted duties, also known as ‘working to contract’. This involves:

• Only working your contracted hours (check your contract or log in to Core for details)
• Refusing to undertake any voluntary activities that are outside of your contract
• Refusing to cover for colleagues who are absent (e.g. due to illness or parental leave)

What kinds of things are ‘voluntary’ activities?

Voluntary activities are broad and vary from contract to contract, but usually involves anything that is seen as ‘going the extra mile’. For academic staff, they commonly include:

• Attending meetings and committees you’re not formally required to attend
• Performing duties that you might normally perform but aren’t strictly part of your contract
• Deputising for a senior colleague
• Attending seminars, trainings, or other events that are beyond your contracted role

For academic-related professional services staff, they might include:

• Attending meetings and committees you’re not formally required to attend
• Performing duties that you might normally perform but aren’t strictly part of your contract (e.g. covering a helpdesk during a colleague’s lunch break)
• Collaborating with colleagues or teams on projects that are outside your normal contracted duties
• Attending seminars, trainings, or other events that are beyond your contracted role

What if I fall behind on my work as a result of ASOS?

You should inform your line manager that you are conforming to your contractual hours but are unable to complete things in the time given. If this means deadlines for the return of marks then you should also communicate this in good time to the students affected, ideally also explaining the reasons why.

Should I cut corners to complete my work?

No, you should do your work with the appropriate rigour and care, and according to relevant benchmarks or guidelines (e.g. QAA). If you run out of time in your allotted hours, you should follow guidance in the point above.

Should I skip breaks to catch up on my work?

You should not skip breaks (e.g. lunch), as this is an example of working beyond your contracted hours. Skipping lunch is a common way of making up time when you’re under pressure, but in reality it is additional work that you are performing for free.

I’m giving a presentation about my research soon. Is this a voluntary activity that should be cancelled?

For most research-active staff, presenting at conferences and symposia is an expected element of their role. However, if a new opportunity arises that is expected to require working additional unpaid hours then it should be turned down or postponed until more time is available to complete it.

My line manager is putting me under a lot of pressure to perform beyond my contracted duties. What should I do?

ASOS is perfectly legal and you are not breaking any rules in participating. In some cases, undue pressure to break the action could constitute harassment or bullying. Make sure you get written evidence (e.g. an email) from your manager regarding what they are wanting to you do, and get in touch with ucu@cardiff.ac.uk to ask for more specific advice.

For more specific questions, there is an extensive FAQ page on the national UCU website.