School of Molecular Biosciences

Supporting a healthy work/life balance in Molecular Biosciences

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

The School of Molecular Biosciences is committed to creating and sustaining an environment that allows all students and staff to flourish. One of the greatest challenges in academia is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. We are developing a number of initiatives to address this challenge.

In 2021, we held focus groups with different School members. We found:

1. Staff and students were generally not aware of leave policies available to them.
2. Understanding of work/life balance policy is generally poor.
3. PhD Student’s would especially benefit from more clarity on expected work hours.
4. Staff and students found benefit in flexible working arrangements.
5. Research staff are more culturally diverse, and felt they had to change to fit in with their workplace culture.

In response to these points raised in focus groups, the School of Molecular Biosciences have:

1. Highlighted available policies online, in posters, in P&DR, and in newsletters.
2. Provided 1-1 work-life balance support meetings.
3. Introduced clarity and expectation setting portions of onboarding meetings for PhD students.
4. Flexible working is now promoted across the School.
5. The School continues to plan and promote events that are inclusive of cultures and backgrounds, while spotlighting and celebrating diversity in our School.

What is work-life balance?

Work-life balance is achieved when an individual’s right to have a fulfilling life inside and outside paid work has been accepted, respected and achieved. This is of mutual benefit for employees, employers and the organisation.

 "Work-life balance is about people having a measure of control over when, where and how they work, leading them to be able to enjoy an optimal quality of life." - The Work Foundation

Work-life balance is self-defined, allowing an individual to managed multiple responsibilities at home, work and within their communities. Working at the University is a passion for many, so this might include people choosing to work for much of their waking day, but also supports people working within core hours or allow them to seek managerial support to consider flexible working.

Having an unsatisfactory work-life balance does not just impact the individual, but also the overall performance and productivity of an organisation. We are aiming to address this challenge; through increasing information and awareness of the resources and policies at Glasgow University, understanding staff needs and by providing training opportunities.