1. Focus Group Summary Report: OAs on Employment Topics Bev Mayhew The Ulum Group Public Relations/Public Affairs July 10 and 11, 2008

2. Agenda Summary of focus group feedback Opportunity for public comment Written comments Next Steps

3. Focus Group Composition Five groups: Office and Resource Admin/Svcs Professional Administrative (two groups) OA Council Professional Academic

4. Discussion Guide: UO as an employer –positive/negative Supportive employment policies Unsupportive employment policies Most important policies One change

5. UO as an employer – positive: Benefits –Medical –Sick leave –Vacation –Retirement Beauty of campus Working with students/higher ed atmosphere Congenial

6. UO as an employer – negative: Inconsistent decision making Inconsistent leadership Atmosphere of paranoia, fear Short-term contracts breed instability Lack of clarity: Where/how do OAs fit in?

7. UO as an employer – negative: Communication – trickle down doesn’t work Compensation –Low/not uniform across campus –Performance appraisal system is inconsistent Decentralization has gone too far Parking!

8. Policies that breed success: Timely notice Annual performance reviews (when applied) Generous benefits/family friendly Professional development (when available) Representation on decision-making teams Multi-year contract

9. Policies that deter success: Timely notice One-year contracts Cumbersome policies, inconsistently applied Lack of clarity: Who’s in charge? Unclear promotion path No recognition/appreciation

10. Employment Topics: Compensation Performance Appraisal Contracts Termination and Timely Notice Grievance Promotion and Career Development Professional Development

11. Employment Topics: Professional Development Leave Sick Leave Sick Leave Advance Vacation Flexible Work Scheduling FLSA (Overtime)

12. Most important policies: Compensation –Inconsistent; inequitable; haphazard –Low; not relative to market –Difficult to attract/retain Contracts –Should be negotiable –Should be longer than one year

13. Most important policies: Professional Development –Need better career path/separate from faculty Termination/timely notice –Protection/security –Consistent performance reviews could replace –Inconsistently applied

14. If you could make one change… More equity/consistency in application of rules and policies Better/more communication Management/leadership training for mgrs Better accountability re: employment policies/need HR advocate Competitive salaries Clearly implemented performance appraisal system w/ defined expectations

15. Key themes in aggregate: Inconsistency in interpretation/application of employment issues Poor communication Need for training Need for more centralization Need for improved recognition and appraisal systems

16. Anything to Add?

17. Next Steps Online survey of all OAs Based on research results, HR and policy review committee to draft or revise policies Recommended policies submitted to university administration

18. Focus Group Summary Report: OAs on Employment Topics Bev Mayhew The Ulum Group Public Relations/Public Affairs July 10 and 11, 2008