UHR : Universities Human Resources

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What to do about the reluctant complainer?

05/05/2022
“It’s a difficult situation. Employee A approaches a member of the HR team and describes how they feel they have been discriminated against by colleagues but say they don't want to take the issue any further. What should HR do next?” This article from VWV is one of a series published on the UHR website in the run-up to UHR’s 2022 Conference: Everyone Onboard! Find out more about all of our partner organisations for 2022 here.

USS: Interim monitoring report shows improved indicative funding position - April 22 update

20/04/2022
USS have released their Interim Monitoring of the Financial Management Plan report as at February 2022. It shows an indicative improvement in the funding position at February 2022 compared to the 31 March 2020 valuation, writes Rebecca Dodd, Head of Mercer's Higher Education Group.

In a nutshell: USS valuation latest

10/03/2022
The USS Trustee has approved the changes to benefits from 1 April 2022 that the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) approved (by casting vote) on 22 February in order to conclude the 31 March 2020 valuation of USS, writes Rebecca Dodd, Head of Mercer’s Higher Education Group.

Conversational Integrity and the return to campus

17/08/2021
A return to campus life is coming, writes Richard Peachey of CMP. As with most sectors there will be more flexibility post-Covid-19 on remote working, looser expectations around nine to five routines.

Ugly-looking stories: HE and NDAs

10/05/2021
Higher Education continues to be a target for questions and suspicion over its handling of bullying and sexual harassment cases, its use of Non-Disclosure Agreements to prevent ugly-looking stories from gaining wider public attention,writes Richard Peachey of CMP Solutions.

Raised expectations? – challenges for HE in preventing and responding to harassment and sexual misconduct

05/05/2021
HE providers in England need to urgently benchmark their systems and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment and sexual misconduct before the next academic year to meet a new Statement of Expectations now published by the Office for Students, writes Diane Gilhooley, Global Head of Employment, Labour, Pensions and Education, at Eversheds Sutherland LLP.

New modern workplaces – Harassment in an online environment: the HR perspective

04/05/2021
On 19 April 2021, the Office for Students called for urgent action to tackle harassment and sexual misconduct in universities, write #UHR21 partner organisation Pinsent Masons.

Revised Research Concordat: UHR becomes a signatory

01/10/2019
This morning UHR can announce that we have become a signatory to the newly updated Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, joining organisations including The Wellcome Trust, UK Research and Innovation, Cancer Research UK and the UK Research Staff Association in showing our support, writes Sue Midha, UHR Vice Chair and Director of Human Resources at Cardiff University.

Watertight HR for the #MeToo Era

25/09/2019
Attention to cases of sexual harassment and assault in HE continues to intensify,writes Richard Peachey of CMP Solutions. Media feel they’re onto something.

Equally Safe in Higher Education

06/09/2018
Gender-based violence (GBV) has gained increasing national and international attention in recent years. Our latest blog is a thought-provoking piece written "in conversation" from Anni Donaldson and Alison Locke of The University of Strathclyde, considering the pioneering work taking place in Scotland on the issue.

Leave the HErd

16/05/2018
How embracing the full potential of an Employer Value Proposition can make your university more competitive, writes Peter Rice of Penna.

Red Card Means No

26/01/2018
The Presidents Club Scandal that broke this week means that sexual harassment is once again the subject of the headlines. Sue Chambers, Director of Human Resources at Aberystwyth University, considers how it affects those working in HE institutions.

Finding Confidence as a University HR Leader - 10 Principles of Good Leadership

23/11/2017
Dr Markos Koumaditis is HR Deputy Director at London South Bank University. Here he reflects on leadership lessons learnt during the UHR Emerging Leaders programme, and 10 principles for good leadership.

Leaving Leftovers: Encouraging Staff To Take Annual Leave

14/02/2017
It's the time of year that many HR Directors will recognise, when employees request to carry-over their outstanding annual leave entitlement to the next holiday year. But why do so few staff take the time that's owed to them? Sue Chambers, Director of Human Resources at Aberystwyth University reflects on how we can encourage employees to make the most of the time available.