HR News

news This page of the HR website details current HR news which will allow members of staff to be kept fully up to date with progress in a variety of areas. For 2009 and 2010 HR news items, see Archived News.

The page below will be updated on a periodic basis.

Please click on the news item below for further information:

RVC during the London Olympics
HR Excellence in Research Award
Pay Award 2011-2012
Essential upgrade of e-recruitment website
Management Toolkits
RVC applies for the European Commission’s ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge
Launch of New Online Staff Appraisal Form
Staff Training and Development Programme 2011/12
Quarterly Induction Afternoon - 20 October 2011
Use of Alcohol on College Premises - Discussion Document
Christmas/New Year 2011/2012 Closure Dates
USS Pension Scheme Changes
Well Being at Work
Royal Wedding - Bank Holiday
Removal of Default Retirement Age
Quarterly Induction Afternoon - 20 April 2011
USS Reform Process and UCU Dispute - Latest News
National Pay Award 2010/2011
Review of USS
Voluntary Severance, Early Retirement and Flexible Working
HR Strategy 2009 - 2011

HR Excellence in Research

The College has been recognised by the European Commission for its 'HR Excellence in Research'. This award recognises the positive actions that the College has taken and will continue to take to support the career development of researchers and the actions in place to implement the principles of the Concordat to Support the Development of Researchers.

The College is one of only 50 UK higher education institutions to be recognised in this way.

Please visit the Research Staff page for more information.

Pay Award 2011 - 2012 (posted Feb 2012)

Following many months of negotiations between the HE employers’ organisation (UCEA) and the unions about the 2011/2012 pay award, which was due in August 2011, UCEA confirmed in January 2012 that Universities should implement an increase of £150 across all of the points of the pay spine.

Salaries were therefore adjusted accordingly with the January 2012 payroll and backdated to 1 August 2011.

For more information please see the College Salary Scale page.

Essential upgrade of Jobs Website (posted Jan 2012)

The Colleges e-Recruitment website will be unavailable due to an essential upgrade on 6 January until 1.00 pm. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Management Toolkits (posted Nov 2011)

HR will be launching three new Management Toolkits covering staff recruitment, appraisal and absence management. The latter has been developed after consultation around the College and with the trade unions, it is intended to provide practical help and guidance to managers grappling with the sometimes difficult problem of sickness and other forms of staff absence. The recruitment and appraisal toolkits have been fully updated following the introduction of the on-line systems that support them.

New inserts will be available for managers to collect between 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm as follows:

Tuesday 29th November in Hawkshead (the old reception desk in the Eclipse building)

The toolkits are also available to download from the Management Toolkits page.

RVC applies for the European Commission’s ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge (posted Oct 2011)

This is a UK-wide process which enables UK HEIs to gain the European Commission's ‘HR excellence in research' badge, which acknowledges their alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment.

The launch of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers in 2008 was a significant national event, raising the profile of researcher development across the HE sector. In adapting the Concordat to produce guidelines with a clear fit with the needs and aspirations of our own researchers and the culture of the RVC, we have built on examples of good practice already in existence at the College and around the sector.

For more information about our application, including how to download the College's Concordat Implementation Strategy and Action Plan, please see the Research Staff page.

Launch of New Online Staff Appraisal Form (posted Oct 2011)

We are pleased to announce the launch a new online appraisal form which we hope will make the process easier to undertake. In placing the form on-line, we have also taken the opportunity to simplify it; and help make appraisal discussions more developmental by asking appraisees to review their progress over the past year before the appraisal meeting. Please visit the Staff Appraisals page.

Staff Training and Development Programme 2011/12 (Posted Oct 2011)

The 2011/12 Staff Training & Development Programme is now available to view via the Staff Development and Training pages of the HR website. In order to save print costs printing of the programme has been discontinued. If you experience any difficulties accessing the programme, please contact training@rvc.ac.uk.

Quarterly Induction Afternoon (posted Sept 2011)

The next Quarterly Induction is scheduled for 20th October 2011 and will be held at the Camden campus. New starters are encouraged to attend this event. Recent new starters will be sent invitations before the event. If you have any questions on induction, please contact Riaz Teimoori on extension 6038. For more information on Induction, please click here.

Use of Alcohol on College Premises - Discussion Document (posted August 2011)

A discussion document is available for members of staff to download and provide any feedback/comments they may have in relation to determining an appropriate way forward (see link below to download the document).

It is requested that any comments are sent to Raiz Teimoori (rteimoori@rvc.ac.uk) and Pauline Ashley-Spike (pspike@rvc.ac.uk) by 31 October 2011. Focus groups will also be held in October and staff interested in participating should contact Pauline Ashley-Spike by 1 October 2011.

Use of Alcohol on College Premises - Discussion Document

Christmas/New Year 2011/12 Closure Dates (posted July 2011)

Christmas/New Year college closure dates for 2011/12 have been confirmed by the Principal as follows:-

Friday 23rd December 2011 – Concessionary Day
Monday 26th December 2011 – Bank Holiday
Tuesday 27th December 2011 – Bank Holiday
Wednesday 28th December 2011 – Concessionary Day
Thursday 29th December 2011 – Concessionary Day
Friday 30th December 2011 – Concessionary Day
Monday 2nd January 2012 – Bank Holiday

The college will therefore close at 5pm on Thursday 22nd December 2011 and re-open on Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

As some departments remain operational over Christmas and New Year, there will be a need for some staff to work during this period.

Quarterly Induction Afternoon (posted Sept 2011)

Latest News on USS Reform Process (posted June 2011)

At its meeting on the 9 June 2011 the USS trustee board confirmed the proposed changes to the USS Pension Scheme (which include the modifications to the original proposed changes) following the Joint Negotiating Committee meeting on 10 May 2011. The changes will be effective from 1 October 2011. For more information, please see USS Review page.

Well Being at Work (posted May 2011)

The RVC values all members of staff and seeks to provide a positive and satisfying working environment in which each member of staff is treated with respect and regard for their health and well-being. The College recognises its responsibilities in ensuring that appropriate resources, systems and procedures are in place to promote and facilitate well-being at work. For more information, please see the Well being at Work page.

Royal Wedding - Bank Holiday (posted April 2011)

Following the announcement of a special bank holiday to celebrate the royal wedding, the college council agreed at their meeting on 8 March that the college will be closed on Friday 29 April 2011. As some departments remain operational throughout the year, there will be a requirement for some staff to work on this date. Staff who have any questions about this should contact the HR Operations team for further guidance.

Removal of Default Retirement Age (posted April 2011)

The Government is phasing out the Default Retirement Age (DRA) between April 2011 and October 2011. During the transitional period, retirements that are already in motion (and which were notified prior to 6 April 2011) can continue through to completion.

The College is currently revising its Age Discrimination policy which includes retirement processes - further details will be posted on the HR website shortly.

Employees and managers can contact a member of the HR Operations team for further guidance.

Quarterly Induction Afternoon (posted April 2011)

The Quarterly Induction scheduled for 20th April in Camden has now been postponed. The next Quarterly Induction is scheduled for 14th July and will be held at the Hawkshead campus. For more information, please contact Riaz Teimoori on extension 6038.

Latest News on USS Reform Process and UCU Dispute (posted March 2011)

A new update on the most recent developments in the USS reform process, the UCU dispute in respect of this, and how both will affect the College and individual members of the scheme has been posted on the HR website (see USS Update page).

National Pay Award 2010/2011 (posted February 2011)

Following many months of negotiations between the HE employers’ organisation (UCEA) and the unions about the 2010/2011 pay award, which was due in August 2010, UCEA confirmed in January 2011 that Universities should implement the increase to salaries. For more information, please click here.

Review of USS Pension Scheme (posted January 2011)

USS Trustees will soon be making decisions about the future of USS, which could have an important impact on benefits and contributions for existing and future members of the scheme. A new section of the HR website has been created to provide information about the Review, and to keep staff updated on progress. If you are a member of USS, please make some time to look through it by clicking on the link below.

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/HR/shared/USSreview.cfm

Voluntary Severance, Early Retirement and Flexible Working (posted January 2011)

Reductions in public spending announced by the Government are likely to mean the College's income from public sector funding streams will decline year on year until 2013/2014.

Following the Principals announcement, staff will all be aware that a number of measures are being taken to reduce staff expenditure and generate income. For more information, please see Voluntary Severance, Early Retirement and Flexible Working.

HR Strategy 2009 - 2011 (posted January 2011)

The College's HR Strategy is to recruit, reward, develop and retain the best possible staff locally, nationally and internationally, in order to achieve its mission and enhance its commercial success and reputation as a world class centre of academic excellence.

To view the full strategy, please visit the HR Strategy webpage.