Editor's note: Throughout the University, academic and support units are addressing the findings of the 2004 Faculty/Staff Survey. All University units, including the College of Medicine and The Penn State Dickinson Law School, participated in the survey, which drew a response rate of 51 percent, or more than 7,800 responses. This is the first of occasional articles, prepared by the Office of Human Resources, describing unit responses to the survey and how the survey results are being used to clarify issues and identify opportunities for improvements.
People -- specifically their physical, mental and emotional well-being -- are the focus of a new initiative being developed in Finance & Business in response to results of the 2004 Faculty/Staff Survey.
"Focus on People," one of six key initiatives in the unit's new strategic plan, emphasizes that all decisions and actions should "be weighed and gauged by their impact" on the physical, mental and social well-being of University faculty, staff and technical service employees and their families.
"We recognize that people are the most important component of the organization," said Gary C. Schultz, senior vice president for Finance and Business/Treasurer. "While physical well-being is an important aspect of our strategic plan's new initiative, our employees' emotional health and their satisfaction with Penn State as a place to work are major factors in sustaining a healthy and happy workforce. Employees want to be recognized as individuals and not as tools to an end. They desire respect and to be appreciated. They expect ethical, fair and even treatment by those in positions of authority and, of great importance, they want to know and have input on what is going on that could or will affect them."
The following goals have been set:
-- Review the responses from the 2004 Faculty/Staff Survey, identify opportunities for improvement and establish action plans to be responsive to the issues identified.
-- Encourage and support members of the University community and their families to participate in University and other wellness programs and efforts, as appropriate.
-- Continue to review employee benefit data and modify plans as appropriate.
-- Recruit, develop and retain a quality workforce.
Finance and Business is composed of nine units: Bryce Jordan Center, Business Services, Budget Office, Corporate Controller, Housing and Food Services, Hospitality Services, Office of Human Resources, Office of Physical Plant and University Police. There were 873 responses to the Faculty/Survey from employees in the unit.
Focus on People got its start when Schultz met with representatives of employee groups that were identified as having particular issues noted in the survey. Following these discussions, which focused on the groups' concerns, each unit received the survey results and was asked to study them and identify issues. At a unit head retreat, which focused on the organization's strategic plan, the Focus on People concept emerged.
Rachel Smith, administrative fellow to Schultz, then was asked to do an analysis of responses to the survey's two open-ended questions: "What do you think should be done to make Penn State a better place to work?" and "What are the things you like about working at Penn State?" Unit heads received a copy of their unit's responses and were asked to identify important issues.
"We looked at some issues identified in the 1996 faculty/staff survey and compared it with the 2004 survey in an effort to gauge our progress in those areas," she said. "In one area, issues involving communication, the results show that we have made marked progress. Communication is now a strength, but also an area with an opportunity for even more improvement."
Smith said the Focus on People team may be asked to look at the whole area of respect as it relates to all classes of University employees, noting that the survey results show that technical service employees, for example, feel less respected. "Another area of concern," she said, "is the perception from the survey that supervisors play favorites and that promotions don't necessarily go to those who deserve them. We hope that these kinds of issues will be fleshed out in the Focus on People initiative."
Gail Hurley, assistant vice president for Housing and Food Services and Residence Life, has been named manager of the Focus on People initiative. Hurley said team members currently are being identified. Once the team has been formed, she noted, members will meet to study the key issues raised in responses to the survey and to develop strategies.
"Through this important initiative," Schultz added, "decisions and actions will be measured with a goal to do no harm and, it is hoped, to enhance the mental, emotional and physical well-being of employees and those close to them. It is incumbent that this initiative and commitment be foremost in the thoughts of everyone responsible for actions bearing on or impacting the Penn State community."