Staff Policy supports heads of department in creating a better work environment
Marco Bianchi, Head of the Department of Scandinavian Languages, thinks the Staff Policy offers support in improving the work environment. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt.
Hello Marco Bianchi, Head of the Department of Scandinavian Languages. Your department has held a staff meeting and discussed the Staff Policy.
How have you incorporated the Staff Policy into your work at the department?
“We had a staff meeting about the Staff Policy and a morning of discussions prepared by the department's equal opportunities group. Many people came to the equal opportunities group’s meeting – even though it was not mandatory – and there were good discussions from what I could see. It was not forced, rather it turned into an opportunity for discussion based on the support material produced by HR.
What do you see as the main benefit of the Staff Policy?
“The major value is that the Staff Policy serves as a common thread when examining the work environment. The Staff Policy should not really be needed. There’s nothing surprising in it, as it’s mostly self-evident. But it’s good that it exists. It serves as a kind of guideline that leads to fewer problems and makes it easy to raise and discuss these kinds of issues – even if it is not an acute situation.”
How can the Staff Policy prevent problems?
“By discussing the Staff Policy, everyone can think for themselves and reflect on their own role. In this way, the discussions can be preventive.
“The Staff Policy is also a good tool for addressing aspects that a head of department believes could become a problem and thus prevent them before they’ve had time to develop.”
Does the Staff Policy affect your day-to-day work?
“Yes, I try to actively consider the Staff Policy in everything I do. Of course, I thought about these issues before as well, but now I can more easily identify the issues and link them to other work, such as the follow-up of the organisational and social work environment survey, etc.”
Do you think the Staff Policy will support you as a head of department? The reason for the Policy being developed was that heads of department raised the need in the inquiry into the head of department role in 2021.
“As a head of department, you are grateful that it exists. It allows you to raise an issue without it being linked to something that has actually happened and is good for dealing with problems in their infancy. The policy is a support to fall back on. Both the Policy and the discussions are important for the ongoing efforts relating to the work environment.
“It also sets the stage for the next head of department, which is an important task for all of us heads of department.”
Looking ahead, what effect do you think the Staff Policy will have had on the University in a few years?
“In the long term, I think the Staff Policy will benefit the entire University’s work environment.”
Anders Berndt
Facts
The Staff Policy at Uppsala University was approved by the Vice-Chancellor in February 2023. In developing it, staff, managers and other groups had the opportunity to provide input and ideas.
The Staff Policy is effectively an A4 page of bullet points on how staff and managers should behave in the workplace.