Employee wellness stood out among UC ANR strengths in the 2021 ANR@Work Survey. UC Cooperative Extension employees in Santa Clara County participated in UC ANR Walks in May. Photo by Susan Weaver

 

The results of the 2021 ANR@Work Survey are in and we're seeing more satisfaction in our work environment, reported Tina Jordan, academic human resources manager. At the Oct. 21 ANR town hall, Jordan presented the following highlights from the survey, which was conducted March 16 – April 9, 2021.

Scores for 2020 strengths increased in 2021:

1. I feel valued by my department
2. All people are welcomed
3. My department supports work-life balance
4. My department practices principles of community
5. I have the opportunity to participate in making decisions that affect my work

2021 strengths: 

1. UC ANR promotes a work environment where all people are welcomed
2. My department supports work-life balance
3. UC ANR promotes employee wellness
4. I understand how I contribute to the University's mission
5. Staff members value my contributions

The 2020 primary areas of opportunity remain the top five for 2021:

1. I feel valued as a member of the UC ANR Community
2. I feel I have a voice to provide my ideas and suggestions on how to improve UC ANR
3. Senior leaders have adequately communicated long-range goals and strategic direction
4. There are sufficient opportunities for contact with senior leadership
5. I am satisfied with my opportunities for career advancement

UC ANR employees offered ideas for improvement. To better foster a sense of belonging and feeling valued among employees and volunteers, they suggested focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); improving hiring and onboarding processes; improving communication and relationships; increasing opportunities for promotion; prioritizing employee and volunteer recognition; making pay more equitable; and facilitating opportunities for employees to get to know one another.

Angela Song, UC San Diego senior director of organizational assessment and strategy, who assisted UC ANR with summarizing the results, lauded ANR's increases in scores across several dimensions and divisions. Song pointed to improved satisfaction in eight categories: senior leaders communicate goals, have a voice, ethical conduct, participate in decisions, promotes employee wellness, feel valued, satisfied with diversity programs and committed to diversity. The only statistically significant decrease was in responses related to total compensation.  

What is UC ANR doing with the 2021 survey results?

To use the survey results to further improve our work environment, Human Resources has shared the unit level summary reports with directors to discuss with employees in their units. HR is also working with Staff Assembly Council to cross reference ANR@Work Survey results with those of the systemwide survey conducted by the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies (CUCSA). Conversations addressing these subjects between leadership and the ANR community will continue through town halls and other Zoom sessions. The DEI Advisory Council is analyzing the survey results by employee demographic categories. The Strategic Planning Committee will continue to align survey results with UC ANR's organizational goals.

The survey was sent to 980 academics, staff and county-paid employees and 560 (57%) completed the survey (as compared to 708 respondents in 2020 for a 73% response rate).

For details about the survey and the results, visit https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Diversity/ANR@Work_Survey_741/2021_ANR@Work_Survey.

The ANR@Work Survey – which will be open through April 9 – gives all academics and staff an opportunity to provide feedback about their experience working at UC ANR. 

The UC ANR community is founded on principles strengthened by common goals, shared interests, camaraderie and a passion for improving the quality of life in all communities. We all have the right to work in an environment that promotes fairness, trust, respect, and physical and emotional safety and security. Your anonymous survey responses will contribute to our efforts to create the best possible work environment for all of us.

On March 16, each academic and staff member should have received an email from Glenda Humiston <satsurvey@ucanr.edu> containing a unique link to the survey. The emailed invitation is the only way to access the survey and cannot be replaced. 

To thank you for your time and to encourage participation, everyone who completes the survey will have the option to participate in a drawing for a $75 gift card. We will award 40 gift cards through random drawings during the survey period. 

The survey is being administered again by UC San Diego; they have been administering a similar survey for more than 20 years on their campus. Results from the 2020 ANR@Work Survey established a baseline for us to measure progress and opportunities for improvement. Examples of activities that were involved by 2020 survey results include increased leadership participation in monthly town hall meetings and more opportunities for ANR employees to provide input into the ANR Strategic Plan. 

You can find 2020 results at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Diversity/ANR@Work_Survey_741.

If you have questions about the survey, please contact Human Resources at satsurvey@ucanr.edu.