Interview with an employee in the administration (anonymous)
How is work in the administration department currently organised?
Staff turnover is high and the labour market for recruitment is very tight. Both the working atmosphere and the level of expertise have deteriorated in my work environment. It has become difficult to express your opinion freely. Instead of dealing with the issues at hand, university politics plays a major role.
In your opinion, what are the levers for creating better working conditions?
We need a cultural change: ideas must be welcomed and implemented. This requires suitable managers and attractive working conditions. A positive working atmosphere and recognition of good performance will make work much more rewarding. Digitalisation has been too slow, for example bringing in an IT solution so that job references can be created with just a few clicks. The initiative was there. There is a lot of frustration among employees when supplements are not settled promptly. It also leads to frustration among employees in HR and the faculties and, of course, supervisors if the workload from timesheet recording to payroll accounting is far too paper-based. There is an urgent need for electronic timesheet recording, duty roster software and a link to the accounting (payroll) system in order eliminate this bottleneck.
Why does a functioning administration benefit all employees?
Without a functioning administration, the FU will lose its independence. One should not underestimate how much knowledge has already been lost through staff turnover. Demographic change affects the whole of Berlin (and beyond) and will further increase the competition for good people in the coming years. Staff councils have addressed the issues and are an institution that holds up a mirror to university management. Something positive needs to happen now.
Information on the new election of the Dahlem staff council
The elections will take place from April 23rd. until May 10, 2024.