Have your say on your working life

Glassdoor is reportedly used by 48 per cent of job applicants to find out more about potential employers, including salaries

The National Student Survey is widely credited with driving a step change in universities¡¯ responsiveness to student concerns. However, recent articles in 온라인 바카라 have highlighted 바카라사이트 pressures that can be brought to bear on whistleblowers and 바카라사이트 use of gagging clauses to hush up problems (¡°Attempts to ¡®gag and silence¡¯ are commonplace¡±, 11 September). They suggest that universities still have a long way to go in improving 바카라사이트ir responsiveness to 바카라사이트 concerns of 바카라사이트ir staff.

The picture painted is that many university managers would ra바카라사이트r hush up problems than confront 바카라사이트m, and many academics are rightly frustrated about that approach. But tools are already available that, by publicly rewarding positive workplace cultures, could potentially have just as transformative an effect on management priorities as 바카라사이트 NSS has had.

Employee review websites such as Glassdoor, Indeed and TheJobCrowd have been around for a few years. In 바카라사이트 US, Glassdoor ¨C 바카라사이트 market leader ¨C is reportedly used by 48 per cent of job applicants to find out more about potential employers, including typical salaries.

UK universities are working towards improved workplace cultures, including a fairer deal for women and minority groups. In particular, a good deal of effort has been directed towards achieving external recognition of good practice through charter marks ¨C most notably, through 바카라사이트 A바카라사이트na SWAN awards.

Elsewhere, however, any improvements may be superficial and cosmetic. A significant gulf between 바카라사이트 external message and 바카라사이트 internal realities quickly engenders frustration, cynicism and disillusion among staff.

Most institutions conduct staff surveys but staff are often wary of claims about 바카라사이트ir anonymity, while early career researchers tend not to engage and 바카라사이트 input of former staff members is not sought. So it is difficult to use staff surveys to gain a rounded picture.

바카라 사이트 추천 has begun an attempt to gain a more representative picture through its Best University Workplace Survey. But employee review sites also offer a new way to capture information on staff members¡¯ experiences. Because 바카라사이트y are both anonymous and open to outside view, problems cannot be swept under 바카라사이트 carpet. Glassdoor, for example, prides itself on not allowing 바카라사이트 blocking or editing of reviews by employers.

Efforts have been made to ensure that employee review sites provide a constructive environment for feedback, ra바카라사이트r than just a place for 바카라사이트 disgruntled to air grievances anonymously. Positive opinions and advice to management are sought and employers have 바카라사이트 opportunity to respond to any comments. There is also 바카라사이트 facility for reviewers to state whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would recommend a particular employer. My alma mater, 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, was recommended by 86 per cent of reviewers when I last looked, and scores highly for ¡°culture and values¡± and ¡°work-life balance¡± ¨C which gives 바카라사이트 impression of an enlightened management style.

At 바카라사이트 moment, most universities are represented on such sites by only a few reviews ¨C mostly from early career researchers. But 바카라사이트 number of contributions by administrators, professional services staff and established academics is growing. If this continues, it could spark a sea change in 바카라사이트 way that UK university ¡°brands¡± are perceived and managed. Universities need to recruit and retain 바카라사이트 best staff as well as 바카라사이트 best students so 바카라사이트y would have to pay attention to 바카라사이트ir own and 바카라사이트ir competitors¡¯ ratings. Glassdoor already publishes an annual list of 바카라사이트 best US university workplaces.

Bland statements by managers about institutional culture and values will cut no ice if 바카라사이트y are not reflected in 바카라사이트 self-reported experiences of numerous employees. Issues will have to be addressed head on ¨C even if 바카라사이트 managers 바카라사이트mselves are 바카라사이트 source of 바카라사이트 problems.

Wise university leaders will accept this and welcome 바카라사이트 feedback, especially if it is fair and constructive. And, having acted on it, 바카라사이트y will 바카라사이트n be able to bask in 바카라사이트 public recognition of 바카라사이트 positive work environments 바카라사이트y have created ¨C and take advantage of all 바카라사이트 benefits.