Pay & Conditions: making progress

Renu Gupta, Director of Talent/Deputy HR Director

• The Pay & Conditions programme has implemented several initiatives since the Vice-Chancellor announced the outcomes of the Review
• The delivery schedule for further initiatives is ongoing, with many initiatives set to launch next term
• The initiatives from Pay & Conditions will provide Oxford with a total reward strategy suitable for a modern international university

I joined the University as a staff member just under a year ago. In that year, I have seen how our colleagues are working to make the world a better place, ensuring that we provide world-class research and education. I am and have consistently been proud to be a part of this organisation. When I joined, the Pay & Conditions Review was well underway and we were preparing our report to take to Council. There was a flurry of activity and I was inspired by a programme of work that was really seeking to invest in people. It’s a rarity these days.

Those first months seem a world away from where we are now, having gotten the approval from Council, launched the implementation programme, hired the project team, and started to deliver at pace.

The Pay and Conditions Review was a great exercise in how we listen to our colleagues and make commitments to implementing changes; specifically, to improve the quality of work and life, both personally and professionally for all staff.

Progress so far

Since the Vice-Chancellor announced the recommendations in June, the project team have focused particularly on the pay-related initiatives. We have implemented the Oxford University Weighting (OUW), which will go some way towards responding to the cost of living crisis and help us attract new staff.

In the months since then, our focus has shifted towards starting to develop some key initiatives at pace. We are now in a position where some of the key components of the programme are getting the final details in order before launching. These include certain NHS and immigration costs and the provision of extended paternity leave.

What’s next for Pay and Conditions?

Several other aspects of the programme are expected to launch in Hilary term. Amongst them are the previously mentioned provision of extended paternity leave and reimbursement of NHS and immigration costs, along with other initiatives such as:

• A toolkit for line managers and supervisors to help address workload issues;
• Interest-free short-term loans to help new starters secure rental accommodation; and
• Targeted wellbeing benefits for staff.

The journey is ongoing. However, the University is committed to building, learning and improving alongside you, to create the best work environments possible.

What does this mean for you?

The great thing about the Pay & Conditions programme is that there are initiatives and components of the programme that will impact everyone, regardless of your job grade or personal status, whether or not you are cohabitating, single, married, have children or live in Oxford. At a recent HR forum, one of my HR colleagues said to me that it seemed as other than pay, most of the initiatives that they could remember were focused on families. As someone who didn’t have any children, they wondered what impact the programme would have on them. I was able to highlight several initiatives, from improved access to cultural assets such as our gardens and museums, to housing and transport, helping them to see how it will impact them both personally and professionally.

I will be working with the programme team to increase the level of awareness around the full portfolio of initiatives that we are developing and implementing.

One of the intentions of this programme is to ensure that Oxford has a total reward strategy that meets the needs of a modern international university. This will foster an environment where individuals can flourish with access to personal and professional development opportunities and creates an organisational culture that prioritises investment in people.

We aren’t there yet – but we are on the way. I look forward to keeping you updated as we launch various components of the programme over the next few terms, making Oxford a great place to work for everyone.