Workplace Survey Initiatives Update - August 2021

Throughout FY21, the ITS Leadership Team and the ITS Climate, Culture, and Inclusion (CCI) Task Force made significant workplace improvements through initiatives derived from the 2019 Workplace Survey results.

Completed initiatives include:

• Meaningful performance evaluations for all ITS Staff (Assure 1:1 feedback consistency across M&P & C&T) (Sandra Germenis) –  The output from this initiative resulted in the publication of recommended practices and resources for managers.  
• Ensuring fairness of opportunity - Extend ITS diversity and inclusion training curriculum (Ann Brainard-Dougan / Sandra Germenis) – The action team worked with Deb Stanley-McAulay to structure a series of facilitated discussions based on four monologues by Yale employees modeling examples of bias in the workplace. A pilot session will be offered to the IT Leadership Team at their regularly scheduled meeting on 9/29/21. Three additional sessions will be offered to staff throughout the remainder of FY22.  The training will be managed through TMS and all IT staff will be asked to attend one session.
• Research “high tech” firm employment practices, culture, and retention strategies (Hadar Call / Kiran Keshav) – The final recommendations for this completed initiative were shared with the SLT on 6/15. This work resulted in a new FY22 Balanced Scorecard goal to build an Employee Engagement model for ITS staff.  You can expect to hear more about this in the months ahead.
• Implement inclusive recruiting practices (Diane Fusco / Blanche Temple) - Work was completed on this initiative with a presentation given to the IT Leadership Team on May 26.  Resource materials and recommendations are available in the Files section of the IT at Yale Teams channel. This effort was the result of the collaboration with various individuals including members of Yale’s HR Staffing Team, members of the CCI committee, Blanche Temple, Julienne Hadley, and Karen Polhemus. 
• 25 Science Park safety (John Barden) - Public Safety confirmed Yale Security staff returned to ‘normal’ patrolling assignments in April and expect to increase presence in the Science Park campus area in coordination with the increase of staff, students and faculty return to campus over the next several months.
• Promote transparency and provide access to senior management (Ryan Schlagheck) – The IT Senior Leadership Team (SLT) reviewed and confirmed skip-level meeting guidance, and this information is now available as a resource on the new Performance Feedback website. Skip-level guidance was also added to the New Employee Orientation for Manager/Supervisor reference and reviewed with the IT Leadership Team at the January 27 monthly meeting.

In addition, progress has been made on the following initiatives, which have now been elevated to FY22 Balanced Scorecard Goals associated with the Workplace of Choice Strategic Anchor:

• Establish ITS work from home guidance for staff (Ted Hanss/ Sandra Germenis )— The team focused on two things: (1) practical guidance for return to campus through mid-September and hybrid work through December and (2) proposals for pilots for CY2022. This work was elevated to the FY22 Balanced Scorecard, with the goal to Resolve Future Ways of Working for IT Professionals.
• Examine total rewards and pay equity/simplify career paths and alignment to market data (Blanche Temple) The team leveraged the new market salary data, working within university guidelines for FY21 merit recommendations. This data also enabled us to align with our pay strategy to address equity and market adjustments for specific roles. Further updates will come through the FY22 Balanced Scorecard Goal to Complete IT Job Family rollout.

We would like to acknowledge everyone who participated throughout the year to bring these initiatives to fruition, including the many members of the initiative working groups, the SLT advisors and especially, the initiative leaders, – this tremendous progress would not have been possible without the collective efforts and commitment of all involved!

These important initiatives help strengthen our culture and bring us closer together to a Workplace of Choice we can all be proud of.

For more details on all of the great work accomplished, visit the Workplace Survey Improvement Initiatives Monthly Tracker snapshot  on the IT Teams channel, or contact Randal Ritter, Senior Project Manager, Enterprise Reporting & Analytics.