UT takes further steps on social safety, culture and behaviour

Following a sector-wide inspection, the Dutch Labour Inspectorate issued several warnings to nearly all universities, including the University of Twente. UT received three warnings concerning workload and internal inappropriate behaviour. We take these findings seriously and will work specifically on the areas for improvement in the coming period.

It is important that UT provides a safe and healthy working environment in which everyone can feel welcome, respected and part of our community, regardless of their background, identity or personal circumstances. Discrimination and exclusion have no place at UT. With these principles in mind, we will continue to strengthen our approach in the coming period.

From individual measures to a coherent approach

The Inspectorate acknowledges that UT pays considerable attention to these issues and has taken various measures, but also concludes that our approach needs to improve in certain areas. UT already has various provisions, training programmes and measures in place relating to social safety and workload. These topics are also firmly on the agenda, for example in discussions between the Executive Board and faculty boards, and within research groups and departments. However, we do not yet have a complete and systematic understanding of the underlying causes and circumstances that increase the risk of internal inappropriate behaviour. We also do not sufficiently evaluate whether measures addressing workload and inappropriate behaviour are actually having the intended effect.

We will therefore further strengthen our approach, with a focus on greater coherence, clear responsibilities, effective support and better monitoring of the impact of measures.

Strengthening support and responsibilities

The findings also show that we need to continuously take a critical look at our systems and support. Are responsibilities sufficiently clear? Are our processes and tools adequate? And do managers and HR professionals have sufficient knowledge, support and options for action to respond effectively, including in complex situations?

HR professionals play an important supporting role. We will therefore continue to invest in their knowledge, skills and ability to support employees and managers effectively. We are paying particular attention to supporting HR colleagues within faculties and service departments. By sharing experiences and learning from one another, we can continue to develop our ways of working.

Working on culture and behaviour across UT

Social safety is not just about systems, procedures or HR, it is largely shaped by what happens every day within teams and between colleagues: how we treat one another, whether people feel able to speak up, how we respond to concerns and what happens when behaviour does not align with what we expect from one another.

An important part of this is an open culture in which people feel able to speak up and address behaviour. We want it to become more natural within UT to talk to one another about behaviour, including before situations escalate or formal steps become necessary. This means that employees and managers should feel free to ask questions, raise concerns and address each other's behaviour. This requires an environment in which both giving and receiving feedback are an integral part of how we work together.

In the coming period, we will determine which UT-wide follow-up steps are needed around culture and behaviour. We will look at how we can encourage desired behaviour and strengthen a culture of speaking up, make social safety easier to discuss, and give employees and managers more practical guidance on how to act. We will build on what is already in place, while also identifying where additional interventions, support or agreements are needed.

Next steps

In the coming period, we will continue to work both on the areas for improvement identified by the Inspectorate and on UT's broader approach to social safety, culture and behaviour. We will look not only at what we organise and agree on, but above all at what difference this makes in everyday practice. We will continue to keep you informed about further developments and concrete next steps.

Are you dealing with a situation involving social safety, or would you like advice or support? The Social Safety Help Guide provides an overview of the support available and the appropriate people to contact.