Workload review: deadline extended for providing feedback

We are pleased to announce that the deadline for providing feedback on workloads has been extended to 28 April 2021.

If you haven't already done so, please use this online form to share your views on workloads (University log-in required). These can be either your own personal views, or a collated response on behalf of your team. Feel free to highlight specific policy or practice that could be improved (or stopped altogether). Likewise, it would also be helpful to draw attention to any examples of good practice that could be usefully applied across our University.

Background

In August 2020, an agreement was reached between the University, the University and College Union (UCU) and the Staff Forum under the Post-COVID-19 Response Programme. As part of this, a commitment was made to conduct a review of workloads, with a view to establishing a common understanding of concerns and potential solutions. The review was to be carried out by representatives of the UCU and Staff Forum as part of a joint working group - further details are available in these meeting minutes (University log-in required).  

We hope to establish a common understanding of concerns in respect of workloads across all staff groups, and through discussion and negotiation identify ways in which practice and policy might change to better ensure balanced workloads, with a particular emphasis on staff wellbeing.

UCU colleagues are consulting their members to establish the priorities for the staff they represent (Grade 6 and above), and the Staff Forum have organised discussion sessions to take feedback from participating colleagues.

The online survey

We want to ensure that our discussions are as well-informed as possible, which is why the online form has been created in addition to the UCU and Staff Forum activities mentioned above.

You can either complete the form based on your own experiences, or complete it on behalf of your team. Please share your thoughts on any particular drivers that potentially inhibit balanced workloads, specific policies or practices (good and bad), and ideas that could be usefully applied across the University. If you want to make suggestions for change, please consider the practicality and affordability of what you are proposing.

The original closing date was 19 April 2021, but due to increased demand, we have now extended the deadline to 28 April 2021.

Next steps

Once feedback has been collated, it is likely that focus group sessions will be held to discuss arising themes and recommendations - details of these will be shared in due course.

The intention is to submit recommendations to the University Executive Board by the end of this academic year, and further updates will be shared as discussions continue.