A survey meant to determine whether Western provides its employees with a positive work environment will be available to staff and faculty Nov. 19-Dec. 7.
The WE Speak faculty and staff survey will provide an opportunity for those employed by Western to share their views about the day-to-day work experience on campus.
“It will form an information base for developing local and organizational-wide improvement plans,” explained Jane Parkinson, a senior facilitator in Learning and Development at Western and project leader for the survey.
Survey questions will focus on subjects such as work engagement, workplace safety, communication and collaboration, involvement in decision-making, individual and team recognition, respect and opportunities for learning and career advancement.
Three open-response questions will also allow participants to share ideas of how to improve the workplace and feedback on Western’s Strategic Plan.
“We need everyone – or as many people as possible – to participate. In order to see our strengths and areas of improvement, we need good, quality information. High participation will give us an accurate picture. A small percentage will give us a limited picture,” Parkinson explained.
“In order to develop an action plan, to improve the experience for everyone, we need the voice of everyone.”
Responses from the survey will go toward not only improving the work environment at Western, but also informing the university’s strategic plan as it undergoes review and renewal. It will also serve as an indicator, down the road, for measuring progress.
Parkinson added the survey is confidential and participation is voluntary.
“We are working with an external survey firm and the survey firm does all of the analysis and reporting – we won’t see any individual results, only the aggregate results,” she said.
The overall results, she said, will be shared with the Western community, while department- and faculty-specific results will be shared with the head of each department, and discussed internally.
The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and will be distributed by email.