Dear everyone,

today is the last day of autumn holiday (for those who have) which I will use to remind everyone that traditionally we have always used autumn to conduct the annual employee appraisals.

All employees with a main position at UiB must have employee appraisals. This also includes PhD candidates, and then it is important to remember that the conversation is not carried out by the supervisor. For employees with a part-time position (or extra employment as it is now called), the research group leader can agree with the employee that it is not necessary.

Employee appraisals are an important arena for clarifying performance expectations, providing mutual feedback and insight into each other’s work situation, and addressing the working environment and conditions at the workplace. For younger researchers in particular, it is important that career planning is included, and that basic pedagogical competence and teaching experience are something they should think about.

Since I am the new head of department, this time I will have employee appraisals with all permanently employed associate professors and professors in main position (at least 50%) in additon to research group leaders and core facility leaders.  According to my list, there will be 49 talks, so I hope that you understand that it will stretch over some time.

Head of Administration Mia Holmaas is responsible for the employee appraisals with employees in the administration.

Otherwise, the conduct of the employee appraisals is delegated to the research group leaders – again a reminder that all employees must belong to a research group. This is a process we are working on, Susanna has already sent out some questions to the research group leaders so that we can make sure that all employees actually receive an employee interview.

Have a great weekend!

Silke