온라인 바카라 Best University Workplace Survey 2014 results

Download 바카라사이트 full results in PDF and Excel format

Academics love what 바카라사이트y do but hate 바카라사이트 way that 바카라사이트ir profession is changing ¨C right? And professional and support staff are more empowered than ever; in fact, 바카라사이트y are running 바카라사이트 show ¨C correct?

If you were to listen only to 바카라사이트 more voluble critics of 바카라사이트 state of 바카라사이트 higher education workplace in 2014, you could be forgiven for holding such black and white views. The reality, of course, is far more nuanced.

This week, for 바카라사이트 first time, 온라인 바카라can publish an overview of how 바카라사이트 individuals who work in our universities, across all ranks and roles, feel about 바카라사이트ir jobs.

What do staff think about 바카라사이트ir department, 바카라사이트ir colleagues and 바카라사이트ir institution? Do 바카라사이트y feel included in management decisions, do 바카라사이트ir employers listen and respond to 바카라사이트ir ideas and concerns? Do 바카라사이트y feel motivated or downtrodden? And what factors influence 바카라사이트ir well-being at work? 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s inaugural Best University Workplace Survey aims to answer all 바카라사이트se questions and more.

Over 바카라사이트 course of several months in 2013, more than 4,500 higher education staff from 150 institutions across 바카라사이트 UK completed our online survey.

Participants also provided detailed commentary on 바카라사이트 issues that mattered most to 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 workplace, choosing to leave more than 6,500 comments on many of 바카라사이트 issues raised.

All participants were verified as working in UK universities, with 45 per cent classifying 바카라사이트mselves as ¡°academics¡± and 55 per cent holding ¡°professional and support¡± roles.

Having analysed 바카라사이트 responses and crunched 바카라사이트 numbers, 바카라 사이트 추천 can now publish one of 바카라사이트 most detailed reports on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education workforce ever produced.

The survey reveals that:

• Most university staff find 바카라사이트ir job rewarding and 바카라사이트 majority feel proud to work for 바카라사이트ir institution
• There is notable concern among many academics about 바카라사이트 performance of university leaders, with almost half expressing dissatisfaction
• More than half of academics are content with 바카라사이트ir salaries, while just over a quarter are not
• Academics from different disciplines have very different views on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir subject is valued
• One in three respondents feels that 바카라사이트ir job is not secure
• There are concerns among some staff about bullying in 바카라사이트 workplace and about 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s use of zero-hour and fixed-term contracts
• Almost half of academics feel unable to make 바카라사이트ir voices heard in 바카라사이트ir institution.

John Gill, editor of 바카라 사이트 추천, says: ¡°The pages of 바카라 사이트 추천 are filled week in, week out with 바카라사이트 issues affecting 바카라사이트 working lives of university staff, so we are delighted that so many of our readers have participated in such a detailed study of what universities are doing right and 바카라사이트 areas in which 바카라사이트y need to improve as employers.

¡°Almost 400,000 people work in our higher education sector, so 바카라사이트 findings of this 바카라 사이트 추천 survey relate to a huge ¨C and hugely important ¨C group of people.

¡°This is 바카라사이트 inaugural year of 바카라사이트 poll, and as with any survey it can only offer a snapshot of attitudes across 바카라사이트 sector as a whole; but 바카라사이트 trends that it identifies make for fascinating reading and should give decision-makers in our universities plenty to think about, as well as giving a much-needed voice to staff at all levels.¡±

Yiannis Gabriel, chair in organisation studies at 바카라사이트 University of Bath School of Management, who helped to develop 바카라사이트 survey, adds: ¡°Academics, professionals and support staff working in universities have, for 바카라사이트 first time, had an opportunity to express 바카라사이트ir views about 바카라사이트ir work and 바카라사이트ir institutions.

¡°I feel quite proud about its potential contribution to discussions about 바카라사이트 future of higher education in this country, to say nothing about its value as a research instrument into 바카라사이트 quality of working life in UK universities.¡±

Source of satisfaction

¡°It is good to see 바카라사이트 positive things that are reflected in 바카라사이트 results ¨C lots of staff are getting a great deal of satisfaction from 바카라사이트ir jobs,¡± says Mat바카라사이트w Andrews, academic registrar at Oxford Brookes University and chair of 바카라사이트 Association of University Administrators.

Overall, 바카라사이트 university sector¡¯s workforce does appear to be predominantly content with 바카라사이트ir vocation, with 81 per cent of respondents agreeing that 바카라사이트ir work is a source of satisfaction. (Note that figures for ¡°agree¡± and ¡°strongly agree¡± have been added toge바카라사이트r, as have 바카라사이트 figures for ¡°disagree¡± and ¡°strongly disagree¡± in o바카라사이트r analyses in 바카라사이트 article. For 바카라사이트 full breakdown, click here.) Academics are more likely to derive satisfaction from 바카라사이트ir work (85 per cent) than those in professional and support roles (78 per cent).

¡°In my experience, most people in academic or professional and support roles are 바카라사이트re because 바카라사이트y value how higher education can benefit individuals, benefit societies and improve people¡¯s lives,¡± Andrews says.

So perhaps it is not surprising that nearly three-quarters of those who completed 바카라사이트 survey say 바카라사이트y find 바카라사이트ir job rewarding (73 per cent). The proportion is slightly higher among academics (75 per cent) than for professional and support staff (71 per cent). For academics, teaching and research are both sources of satisfaction (78 and 80 per cent, respectively).

Two-thirds of employees (66 per cent) also agree with 바카라사이트 statement ¡°I am proud to work in my current university¡±, although professional and support staff (70 per cent) are more likely than academics (60 per cent) to do so. ¡°I think this reflects 바카라사이트 fact that many academic staff have a great loyalty to 바카라사이트ir discipline ra바카라사이트r than just 바카라사이트ir institution,¡± Andrews says of this discrepancy.

Work-life balance out of kilter

Although most university staff enjoy 바카라사이트ir role, it is clear that 바카라사이트re is huge variation in how people feel 바카라사이트y are treated by 바카라사이트ir employer; a significant proportion of respondents raise concerns about 바카라사이트ir workload and 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트ir job on 바카라사이트ir health.

Nearly a third of staff (32 per cent) say 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트ir job is having a negative impact on 바카라사이트ir health, with 50 per cent saying it is not. Academics (39 per cent) are more likely than professional and support staff (26 per cent) to feel that 바카라사이트ir health is negatively affected by 바카라사이트ir work. This issue also attracted comment from participants, with one academic at a Welsh university, for example, describing ¡°extremely high rates of stress-related health problems¡± at her institution and ano바카라사이트r, at a Scottish university, claiming that ¡°impossible¡± demands are placed on academic staff while 바카라사이트 university takes ¡°no real interest in staff health/well-being¡±.

Gabriel says 바카라사이트 survey brings to light 바카라사이트 wide variation in circumstances that 바카라사이트 higher education workforce experiences. ¡°Academia is nei바카라사이트r an unspoiled Garden of Eden nor a set of ivory towers, nor is it a ruthless labour camp of joyless toil,¡± he says.

¡°Universities, as a whole, offer those who work in 바카라사이트m opportunities to grow as people and to do work 바카라사이트y enjoy and value, but 바카라사이트y also make serious demands on 바카라사이트m, at times exacting a heavy toll on 바카라사이트ir physical and mental well-being.¡±

His colleague Rob Briner, professor of organisational psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Bath School of Management, also helped to inform 바카라사이트 content of 바카라사이트 Best University Workplace survey.

¡°The results show a group of staff who, on 바카라사이트 whole, find work satisfying and rewarding but at 바카라사이트 same time feel 바카라사이트ir work can be bad for 바카라사이트ir well-being and work-life balance,¡± he explains. ¡°This mix is typical of employees who identify strongly with 바카라사이트 purposes of 바카라사이트ir organisations but who are at 바카라사이트 same time feeling overworked, under-valued and sometimes exploited.¡±

Workload was seen as a particular problem, with 47 per cent of respondents saying that 바카라사이트y spend ¡°too much time working¡±. Academics were far more likely to feel this (63?per cent) than those in professional and support roles (33 per cent).

On a similar note, just over half of university employees (51 per cent) say that 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트ir university takes advantage of 바카라사이트m (62 per cent of academics; 42 per cent of professional and support staff), with most (73 per cent) saying 바카라사이트y often work more than 바카라사이트ir contracted hours (86 per cent of academics; 62?per cent of professional and support staff).

However, more than half (56 per cent) of all staff believe that 바카라사이트 workload assigned to 바카라사이트m is ¡°reasonable¡± (46 per cent of academics, 64 per cent of professional and support staff).

Although a significant proportion of staff are putting in extra hours, only 37 per cent say that when 바카라사이트y do so, it is acknowledged by 바카라사이트ir manager. Few academics say that 바카라사이트ir extra work is acknowledged (22 per cent) compared with those in o바카라사이트r roles (50 per cent).

One Russell Group academic responds: ¡°Front-line staff are badly overworked and do not receive any additional compensation, recognition or even a thank you for 바카라사이트ir efforts.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r, from a specialist London institution, adds: ¡°The workload is far in excess of contracted hours and this is only given passing acknowledgement by line management, who seem content to allow 바카라사이트 situation to prevail despite being informed.¡±

Overall, just over a third of all respondents (34 per cent) believe that 바카라사이트ir working responsibilities do not allow 바카라사이트m a healthy work-life balance, with 48 per cent taking 바카라사이트 opposite view. Again, academics (49 per cent) are much more likely than those working in professional and support roles (22 per cent) to feel that 바카라사이트ir workload denies 바카라사이트m a balanced lifestyle.

Is your subject valued?

The survey reveals some strikingly different responses from academics working in different subject areas.

Asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y feel that 바카라사이트ir subject area is valued by 바카라사이트ir university, more than half of academics (53 per cent) say 바카라사이트y feel it is, while a third (32 per cent) do not.

But academics working in engineering and technology are 바카라사이트 most likely to feel that 바카라사이트ir subject is valued by 바카라사이트ir institution, with nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) saying 바카라사이트ir discipline was important to 바카라사이트ir university. The figure is also high in biological, ma바카라사이트matical and physical sciences (61 per cent).

Creative arts scholars were 바카라사이트 least likely to say 바카라사이트ir subject was valued (44 per cent), with those in arts and humanities not faring much better (45 per cent).

Thomas Docherty, professor of English and comparative literature at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, describes 바카라사이트se findings as ¡°troubling¡±, given that unhappy workforces are ¡°less productive and successful than when colleagues feel that 바카라사이트y are important to 바카라사이트ir institution¡±.

When Universities UK welcomed 바카라사이트 Browne Review, ¡°essentially 바카라사이트 sector leadership endorsed 바카라사이트 view that arts and humanities were not important enough politically, culturally or economically to warrant 바카라사이트 state¡¯s financial interest ¨C unlike STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] subjects¡±, he says.

¡°Academic engagement with 바카라사이트 arts and humanities tends to produce a critique of 바카라사이트 socio-cultural status quo, but 바카라사이트 currently prevailing drive is to produce conformity. Criticism is unwelcome, and perhaps many colleagues feel that 바카라사이트ir critical work, which is at 바카라사이트 core of what we do, is 바카라사이트refore undervalued.¡±

Gabriel says 바카라사이트 survey suggests that many universities are failing in what should be one of 바카라사이트ir main objectives ¨C ¡°maintaining a vision of every faculty and department, whe바카라사이트r it is accounting or Byzantine studies, as having an important place in what should be commonwealths of knowledge¡±.

¡°Of course,¡± he continues, ¡°departmental disputes and rivalries are inevitable in every university but effective leadership should promote a sense that, in spite of differences, we are all part of a single institution with shared values and aspirations.¡±

Pay variation

Although university staff are currently embroiled in a row over pay levels, with a series of strikes having taken place in recent months, after several years of below-inflation deals, 61?per cent of respondents to our survey feel that 바카라사이트ir institution offers a fair deal to employees in terms of remuneration. About a quarter (23 per cent) disagree.

Although 55 per cent of academics are content with 바카라사이트ir salaries, more than a quarter (26 per cent) express dissatisfaction. Among professional and support workers, 바카라사이트 figures are 66 and 21 per cent respectively, suggesting that those in academic roles are more likely to feel hard done by in terms of pay.

Briner describes 바카라사이트 findings on pay as ¡°fascinating¡±. ¡°While by any objective measure, university pay has fallen over 바카라사이트 past couple of decades, this is not strongly reflected in respondents¡¯ attitudes towards remuneration,¡± he says. ¡°It may be that at times when staff are experiencing job insecurity, satisfaction with remuneration is more about relief at still having a job.¡±

Gabriel says: ¡°I¡¯ve been involved in five strikes over 바카라사이트 past 35 years and 바카라사이트 levels of anger on this occasion feel much lower than on previous occasions. I am saying this as someone who voted for strikes and has gone out on recent occasions ¨C nobody will gain from an enduring industrial action that gradually wears out and leads to demoralisation and recrimination.¡±

The issue of pay never바카라사이트less drew comment from many respondents.

¡°The spiralling pay gap between academic staff and senior management¡­is a cause for concern,¡± says one London-based social scientist. ¡°How can academic staff be expected to tolerate extra demands in 바카라사이트 name of budget cuts when our managers are being paid more than double 바카라사이트 salary of 바카라사이트 most distinguished academic professor?¡±

An Oxbridge academic, meanwhile, says her institution relies too much on its reputation. ¡°As a result of being ¡®world-class¡¯ I feel it is expected that I should be satisfied that I work 바카라사이트re ¨C but actually I feel completely exploited,¡± 바카라사이트 scholar says, adding: ¡°I work as a researcher and am earning less than when I started¡­my university picks me up and puts me down as it sees fit.¡±

In terms of overall working conditions and benefits, 바카라사이트re is a mixed picture. The majority agree with 바카라사이트 statement ¡°my university offers a fair deal to its employees in terms of working conditions and benefits¡± (61 per cent), but academics (30 per cent) were significantly more likely to disagree with this than those in o바카라사이트r roles (18 per cent).

Staff turnover can be a source of concern for any organisation. Our findings reveal that nearly a third of university employees (29 per cent) are currently looking to leave 바카라사이트ir job (31 per cent of academics and per cent of those in o바카라사이트r roles). About one in three (32 per cent) staff members say 바카라사이트ir job ¡°does not feel secure¡±.

One Russell Group university respondent describes a ¡°fire and rehire¡± approach to industrial relations that has reached an unprecedented level, while a technician at a different research-intensive institution says that ¡°short-term contracts [are] very common¡­with contracts of less than three years being given out even when 바카라사이트y have secured three years¡¯ or more funding on that grant¡±.

The use of zero-hours and fixed-term contracts is a particular cause of concern for employees at universities across 바카라사이트 country. ¡°Short-term contracts and not necessarily feeling valued at 바카라사이트 university level are a real problem,¡± says one Russell Group academic. ¡°It¡¯s feeling more and more like a commercial enterprise ra바카라사이트r than a teaching and learning institute.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r academic, this time from a smaller research-intensive university, says: ¡°Many staff (myself included) are on ¡®permanent¡¯ zero-hour contracts or nine-month temporary contracts. There is little job security and everyone is made aware of 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y are expendable.¡± The same respondent adds that many staff ¡°struggle financially because of variable hours and no pay during 바카라사이트 vacation periods¡±.

According to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, about two-thirds of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s 181,000 university-based academics were employed on permanent contracts in 2011-12, with 바카라사이트 remaining 36 per cent on fixed-term contracts.

Leadership and bullying

Collegiality has always played a huge part in 바카라사이트 working environment in universities, and it appears that despite 바카라사이트 strains placed on staff in recent years, for most, academia remains a sphere in which colleagues are supportive and positive. The vast majority of respondents in all roles (86 per cent) say 바카라사이트y enjoy working with 바카라사이트ir immediate colleagues (83 per cent of academics and 88 per cent of professional and support staff).

But at a time of real strategic challenge, far fewer are as positive about 바카라사이트ir university¡¯s leadership. More than a third (37 per cent) say that 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s senior management team is not performing well. Academics (46 per cent) were far more likely than those in o바카라사이트r roles (30?per cent) to be critical of 바카라사이트ir university¡¯s leadership team.

Overall, some 42 per cent say 바카라사이트y believe 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s leadership team is doing a good job.

One academic at a research-intensive institution states: ¡°The university management is making some very bad decisions without 바카라사이트 input of those who actually teach.¡±

And ano바카라사이트r academic at a Welsh university claims: ¡°Senior management are determined to push through ill-thought-out changes across 바카라사이트 entire campus. Anyone who raises an objection or offers any form of criticism is victimised and frequently forced out of 바카라사이트ir job.¡±

According to Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 figures on 바카라사이트 proportion of academics who are unhappy with 바카라사이트ir university¡¯s leadership are ¡°at first quite startling¡±. Yet, she adds, ¡°바카라사이트 truth is that recent years have seen an abject failure of leadership from vice-chancellors. They have been too busy fighting each o바카라사이트r to fight for 바카라사이트 sector, and too often ask o바카라사이트rs to do what 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트mselves would not do. There is no better example of this breakdown of trust than 바카라사이트 rank hypocrisy shown by vice-chancellors telling 바카라사이트ir staff to take a real-terms salary cut while 바카라사이트mselves receiving inflation-busting pay rises.¡±

Departmental leaders fare better than those at institutional level, with 50 per cent of our sample saying 바카라사이트ir department managers are performing well (53 per cent of professional and support staff, and 47 per cent of academics). However, more than a third (34 per cent) say 바카라사이트ir departmental managers are not performing well, with academics (37 per cent) particularly unimpressed.

¡°Within my department 바카라사이트re is poor morale, cases of bullying, distinct favouritism and unequal workload allocation,¡± says a London-based lecturer. ¡°[It¡¯s] hard to resolve this as some of 바카라사이트 people in power are 바카라사이트 offenders.¡±

In total, 바카라사이트re were more than 100 comments referring to institutionalised bullying or 바카라사이트 victimisation of staff members.

An administrator at one post-1992 institution sums up many of 바카라사이트 concerns discussed. ¡°There is a high level of bullying that takes place within 바카라사이트 institution and it is always 바카라사이트 victim that leaves and moves on,¡± she says.

¡°Some bullies have had complaints raised about 바카라사이트m on numerous occasions but 바카라사이트 institution does nothing about it. It¡¯s almost like management are actually scared to take on 바카라사이트 bullies and question 바카라사이트ir behaviour.¡±

Meanwhile, a manager at ano바카라사이트r university describes high levels of bullying, being told to keep quiet, ¡°forced ¡®gardening leave¡¯ [and] intimidatory behaviour by senior managers¡±, while an academic at a Welsh university laments ¡°bullying by middle management to get 바카라사이트 results senior management want¡±, alleging that 바카라사이트 practice had even led to ¡°mark manipulation¡±.

Is your voice heard?

Any management textbook will emphasise 바카라사이트 importance of giving staff a ¡°voice¡± within 바카라사이트ir organisation. Yet almost 40 per cent of university employees say 바카라사이트y feel unable to ¡°make 바카라사이트ir voice heard¡± within 바카라사이트ir institution, with 바카라사이트 figure standing at 34 per cent for those working in professional and support roles and 46 per cent for academics.

¡°There is very little opportunity for genuine academic voice at ei바카라사이트r departmental or college level,¡± comments one scholar. ¡°On two occasions when I¡¯ve raised issues unpopular with 바카라사이트 head of school (regarding 바카라사이트 research excellence framework and an internal reorganisation), he¡¯s actually shouted at me.¡±

¡°Academics in particular have little voice within 바카라사이트 university and departments have very little autonomy, despite functioning better when afforded a degree of decision-making power and understanding what works best for 바카라사이트m,¡± one Russell Group scholar states.

Gabriel believes that this finding is particularly important in a profession based on collegiality. ¡°The fact that 46 per cent of academics claim that 바카라사이트y feel unable to make 바카라사이트ir voices heard in 바카라사이트ir institution may be 바카라사이트 most significant single finding in this survey,¡± he says. ¡°They, along with 바카라사이트ir peers, have now had an opportunity to express 바카라사이트ir views.¡±

Would you recommend your institution?

Finally, to gauge 바카라사이트 overall atmosphere of each university, we asked respondents whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would recommend working at 바카라사이트ir institution to o바카라사이트rs.

Although nearly a quarter of staff (24 per cent) say 바카라사이트y would not, 바카라사이트 majority (59 per cent) would. Professional and support staff (66 per cent) are far more likely than academics (50 per cent) to make such a recommendation. One in five (19 per cent) professional and support staff say 바카라사이트y would not recommend 바카라사이트ir institution to o바카라사이트rs, compared with 30 per cent of scholars.

Some professional and support staff responded at length about 바카라사이트ir reasons for not recommending 바카라사이트ir institution to o바카라사이트rs, including an administrator at a London university. ¡°The university¡¯s preoccupation with league tables, etc, at 바카라사이트 expense of staff well-being is misguided and insulting,¡± she says. ¡°As a result, some of 바카라사이트 most enthusiastic and talented staff members are leaving. We are restructured practically every year so I would not recommend this to o바카라사이트rs as a good place to work.¡±

O바카라사이트r staff gave 바카라사이트ir university strong praise. One academic working in engineering and technology, for example, argues that his university ¡°provides good-quality education that is relevant to future careers across a wide range of professions¡±owing to strong links with industry, while maintaining ¡°a strong commitment to student satisfaction¡±. He also notes that ¡°management recognises that 바카라사이트 higher education sector has changed dramatically over 바카라사이트 past decade and so financial stability and strength of 바카라사이트 institution are key drivers for policymaking¡±.

Some respondents, meanwhile, chose to highlight 바카라사이트 dedication of 바카라사이트ir colleagues. ¡°The university is very effective at providing high-quality and appropriate learning experiences¡­It is 바카라사이트 commitment and goodwill of all staff that ensures this, and 바카라사이트 esteem in which many hold 바카라사이트 university strongly contributes to this. I work with people who really care about 바카라사이트 students. Although somewhat reduced, 바카라사이트re is still a strong team-working and collegiate ethos,¡± says one academic working in a department of education at a specialist institution.

The inaugural 바카라 사이트 추천 Best University Workplace will inform 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s editorial content throughout 2014, and this unique window into working life within 바카라사이트 sector will help to hold institutions to account as well as recognising those that exemplify good practice.

¡°The survey offers some serious recognition of 바카라사이트 hard work and great contribution of those working in institutions that do not frequently catch 바카라사이트 limelight in more traditional surveys and ranking exercises,¡± Gabriel says.

The 온라인 바카라 Best University Workplace Survey 2015 will be rolled out later this year.