Guidance for managers

The Staff Survey 2019 launches on Monday, 4 March and runs until Monday, 8 April. Communications across various broadcast and local channels – including StaffNet, eUpdate, Leaders’ Digest, Faculty/School/Directorate newsletters etc. – will be rolled out before, during and after the survey, and throughout the action planning period and beyond.

The survey gives us an understanding of how staff feel about working at the University. With their honest feedback we can shape future plans and make significant improvements, and set targets for these achievements. The survey also allows us to benchmark ourselves against other universities (and where possible, the Staff Survey 2017) to see how we compare and where we can improve.

Survey topics

From leadership and management to training and development, the survey covers a number of topics. Key questions will measure employee engagement and the effectiveness of our organisational structure, and address our people management performance indicators. 

Staff will be asked to rate their level of agreement with a statement, and give yes or no responses. There is also the option to supply additional comments at the end of the survey.

Personal information

The survey asks respondents to complete a demographics section. Personal information won’t be reported on, but grouped so it provides us with summary data. This will give us insight into the different demographics at the University and their (possibly) different experiences of working here.

Capita – the external consultants handling the survey – are using existing data to pre-populate a respondent’s area of work. This will mean that groups of responses can be attributed to the correct department, and reported on accurately.

Response rate

In order to ensure we have the widest and most competent understanding of our employee’s views, we are aiming to achieve a response rate of 75% as laid out as a key Performance Indicator in Manchester 2020.