From the middle of next month the University will be carrying out a staff survey.
This survey provides an opportunity for members of staff in all areas of the University to have their say on the issues that affect them in the workplace.
It is a chance to say what you like about working at the University and what you want to see improved in the future.
The survey will be launched in mid-March and will run for four weeks.
It will be delivered mainly online but hard copies will be given to staff who do not have easy access to email, and other staff can request a hard copy if you prefer it to an electronic version.
The University has commissioned external consultants Capita to deliver the survey, analyse the results and prepare a report for the University’s Council. The results of the survey will also be shared with the whole University community.
Capita were chosen following a rigorous assessment and tendering process which was undertaken by a panel, chaired by Ian Cheetham, Director of Human Resources. The decision was approved by the Staff Survey Working Group which includes representatives from academic faculties, professional services and the Trade Unions.
Capita have provided a similar service to a number of universities, including those in the 1994 Group of universities, which will be helpful in terms of benchmarking the results and outcomes.
The survey will be completely anonymous and will be undertaken in accordance with Data Protection Act. Your reply will never be linked to you as an individual. At no time will the University be able, or indeed try, to access individual responses.
The 2011 survey follows on from our previous staff survey in October 2007.
A number of areas for improvement were highlighted in that survey, and the University has introduced various new initiatives and changes as a result. These include:
- Staff development and performance review – the appraisal scheme has been reviewed, revised and renamed. This has been rolled out across academic and professional services staff. As a result there has been a renewed attention on performance and development with several departments asking for tailored training and support as they have reinvigorated the process.
- Staff retention – research has highlighted the importance of front line managers and how their behaviour relates directly to employee engagement, job satisfaction and performance. A poor relationship with a line manager can be a push factor for someone to leave their job and the organisation. The Staff Development Unit has been providing a number of leadership and development opportunities for managers to help reduce this risk. An exit interview procedure has also been introduced.
- Managing change – in any major change initiative the University now undertakes, emphasis is given to ensuring there is an effective communication and consultation plan. This was applied in the recent Faculty Restructuring, which included open meetings with the VC and regular web updates.
- Internal communications – improvements have been made to the ‘internal home page’ and the University has introduced the use of Twitter and Facebook to supplement traditional communication channels. An independent review of internal communications at the University has recently been conducted with the aim to make further improvements in the future.
Further details of the Staff Survey 2011 will be issued nearer the time it goes live, including the areas to be covered and exact details on how and when to fill it in.
If you have any questions in the meantime please contact Deborah Griffin, Human Resources Manager on ext 6542.