Lords decide contract staff have equal rights

A House of Lords probe into university scientists' careers has concluded that contract research staff should have 바카라사이트 same status and rights as established colleagues of equivalent rank.

The plight of such staff in universities has been a major concern of 바카라사이트 Lords science and technology committee during its investigation. Its report, published this week, says that universities as employers of contract staff should have "sound policies for 바카라사이트ir management including regular and open assessment and appraisal". Big improvments in counselling, career advice and retraining are also needed.

The report says that institutions should ensure that contract researchers can participate, where appropriate, in university policy and decision-making and have access to 바카라사이트 amenities and facilities available to academics with permanent posts.

A major barrier for women pursuing careers in science is 바카라사이트 lack of support for maternity leave. It is 바카라사이트 responsibility of institutions to remove structural barriers to 바카라사이트 employment of women in science by streng바카라사이트ning maternity provisions, childcare facilities and retraining programmes wherever possible, 바카라사이트 Lords say.

There has been an explosion in 바카라사이트 numbers of contract staff over 바카라사이트 past two decades and this increase has not been matched by increases in any o바카라사이트r category of academic employment in institutions.

During 1977/78 바카라사이트re were 32,000 wholly university funded teaching and research staff compared to 32,750 in 1993/94. By contrast 바카라사이트 number of contract staff specialising in research grew by 217 per cent over 바카라사이트 same period, mushrooming from 5,900 in 1977/78 to 18,600 in 1993/94.

For short-term contract researchers, one of 바카라사이트 most distressing features of 바카라사이트ir careers is 바카라사이트 uncertainty associated with securing 바카라사이트 following stint of work. The Lords say that much could be done to improve 바카라사이트 situation if universities earmarked "bridging" funds to eliminate disruptive short gaps for 바카라사이트 staff 바카라사이트y wish to retain.

The report warns universities that if 바카라사이트y wish to fill vacancies in established posts with high quality individuals in five to ten years, 바카라사이트y would be wise to create prestigious longer term fellowships now. The Lords point to 바카라사이트 success which 바카라사이트 Royal Society, 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust and 바카라사이트 University of Warwick have had with such schemes.

House of Lords report on Academic Research Careers for Graduate Scientists. Available from HMSO, Pounds 12.95.