Taking action on Staff Survey issues
21 Mar 2017
Focus on the Library
Since the Staff Survey in 2015, staff working at the Library have been working together to make improvements in several areas.
The key areas of concern within the Library overall were identified as not having a clear understanding of what is expected in their jobs, the physical environment, and managing change.
My role
The survey results were mainly focussed around the performance development review (PDR) process.
We have:
- Provided over 80 Library managers with PDR reviewer training across five sessions and all Library staff are currently in the process of completing reviewee training ahead of their review meetings.
Physical environment
Issues were raised around the physical environment of the Library including temperature, lighting and so on.
We have:
- Consulted with Library staff and they are heavily involved in the planning stages of the Main Library Redevelopment project
This has included contributing to the design of staff and public spaces, and enjoying the chance to sample possible furnishing options and influencing decisions.
The project is currently on hold as part of the ongoing review of the Campus Masterplan however we are hopeful to continue the project again in the summer.
Managing change
The Library results showed that more could be done to help staff to prepare and cope with change.
We have:
- Introduced a professional internal communications function within the Library’s Strategic Marketing and Communications team which has enabled a more strategic and innovative approach to be taken to staff communication and engagement
- Provided resilience and assertiveness training for members of two of the Library’s staff development groups – the Leadership Development Network (LDN) and the Career Advancement Network (CAN)
- Held a talk for LDN members with guest speaker Simon Merrywest, Director of Faculty Operations for Biology, Medicine and Health, on leading change.
Library Staff Survey redevelopment
The Library’s own staff survey was redeveloped in 2016 to provide an additional focus on culture and values specific to the Library.
It is used to measure progress against specific goals around workplace culture and ways of working as well as allowing us to look at results at a divisional level. It means we can identify local challenges and take action to make improvements at a team level.