Special conditions for the work environment at universities: Members of academic staff are both colleagues and competitors
AU will carry out a psychological workplace assessment in 2016. As a prelude to this, FSU (the Faculty Liaison Committee) and FAMU (the Faculty Occupational Health and Safety Committee) held a joint theme meeting in June on well-being and the psychological workplace environment at Health.
Anne Lindholm Behnk, head of AU HR Organisational Development and Working Environment, opened the meeting by saying that having a good work environment is a shared responsibility. However, the work environment at universities is subject to some special conditions as the academic staff are both competitors and colleagues, which can have a knock-on effect on the work environment. Studies show that researchers give higher priority to a friendlier work environment rather than e.g. work/life balance and higher salaries. Therefore, it is also important to look at how you can create the best work environment in a competitor-colleague culture.
Work environment statistics from 2014 show that the work environment at Health has an OK level in relation to absence due to sickness, psychological counselling and work-related injuries. Initiatives have also been launched within focus areas of accessible management and individual stress.
In the minutes (only in Danish) from the theme meeting of 17 June 2015, you can read more about the meeting and the group discussions (only in Danish) about how FSU and FAMU can work together to maintain and ensure better well-being and a better psychological workplace environment at Health.