Staff Forum: how does it support you?

The Staff Forum is a representative group at the University, which supports all colleagues with having their voices heard and improving their working lives.

The Staff Forum formally represents Grade 1-5 staff (Grade 6 and above are represented by UCU) on matters such as their contracts or pensions, but is also a way for colleagues at all levels to make their views and concerns known to senior management.

Made up of reps from roles across the University, the Staff Forum seeks to:

• Represent colleagues’ views by ensuring they are heard during proposals, through its regular meetings with University leadership.
• Support colleagues by joining them in formal meetings related to their employment, such as redundancy consultations or disciplinary hearings, or assisting with designing or delivering colleague initiatives.
• Connect colleagues by holding regular get togethers that allow staff in different roles to engage with one another, and linking colleagues with our staff networks or other groups that can help them.

The Staff Forum is also formally engaged with senior leadership around the University’s financial sustainability plans, and will have input on these.

Improving working lives

The Staff Forum works with colleagues in a number of ways to improve working lives for everyone.

Here are some examples of initiatives they have supported, and of how other colleagues could work with them too.

Breastfeeding rooms

The Staff Forum worked with the Parent and Family Network to create rooms for breastfeeding and chest feeding on campus.

This was in response to requests by colleagues for access to private, comfortable rooms for feeding and expressing, or for pregnant colleagues to rest, during the working day.

Funding was provided through the Staff Forum to create the rooms, which were delivered as a joint project with the network.

There are three breastfeeding rooms, at Whiteknights, Earley Gate and London Road, complete with reclining nursing chairs, plug sockets for electric pumps, and some with a fridge for storing expressed milk. Last year, a fourth room was added in the Agriculture building.

Find out more about the breastfeeding rooms and how to use them on the Parent and Family Network webpages.

Wellbeing get together

Staff Forum reps worked with the Occupational Health and HR teams to arrange a Wellbeing Week in 2019.

The event was held in response to staff survey feedback that showed colleagues wanted more opportunities to network with others on campus and more wellbeing activities.

The event included health sessions led by Reading researchers and a popular health kiosk that allowed around 300 colleagues to find out their health statistics, including their BMI and blood pressure, and learn the benefits of healthy lifestyles.

Staff Appreciation Day

The Staff Forum supported the recent celebration to try and encourage more colleagues to attend.

They assisted the Events team with activity planning, including the new rounders tournament, supported the staff networks to hold engagement activities, and funded the free ice creams for colleagues.

Get involved

All colleagues are encouraged to speak to the Staff Forum reps about any ideas they have or to share views to be passed on senior leaders.

You can also volunteer as a Staff Forum Representative. There are currently vacancies and it would be beneficial to have reps in as many different areas of the University as possible.

Reps have the opportunities to learn new skills and engaging with staff inside and outside their teams. Duties involve assisting with events, projects and consultations, supporting colleagues, and participating in meetings with HR and senior management. These duties can be organised around their roles.

Visit the Staff Forum website to apply to be a rep. Or email co-chairs Daniel Wallace or Lisa Powles for more information.