Why? Because you asked for it and you deserve it.
A recent U-M Health System survey supports this:
When polled about what constitutes meaningful recognition, an
overwhelming 96% reported that “being
asked for input and expertise” was most important – higher
than any other form of recognition.
VOICES is a way to give you a vehicle to provide your input and expertise in a way that can help improve the entire University community by improving communication between staff and administrators. Simply put, better communication leads to a better working relationship, which leads to a better work environment, which leads to better outcomes.
Here are some potential examples of how VOICES can improve the University:
- Provide seamlessly integrated administration of registration, classroom services, and learning tools for students.
- Provide the smoothest possible operation of
research laboratories and the Health System.
- Enhance U-M’s leadership role
in information technology.
- Operate with utmost fiscal efficiency.
- Provide an open, welcoming face to the community, and to the State of Michigan.
We want all staff to feel involved.
Many campus groups have made great contributions
to the University culture. VOICES is
an initiative to expand that communication to give voice to more
staff members. It is time to create a group of committed
staff members, whose membership rotates yearly as appropriate,
to give voice to the more than 25,000 staff members as a whole,
similar to the voice of the students through the Michigan Student
Assembly and for the faculty through the Faculty
Senate.
There really is a bottom line.
Over the past seven years, the Great Place to Work Institute has designated “100 Best Places to Work,” published each year in Fortune Magazine. Significantly, that designation is based on front-line staff reporting that they are trusted, respected, and treated fairly and honestly by management. What difference did this make? Recently, the Frank Russell Company did this independent tracking of the financial success of these organizations:
- If, in 1997, you had invested your portfolio in the S&P 500, by the year 2003 you would have realized a 25% return on your investment.
- If, instead, you had invested in the 1997 “100 Best,” your return would be 73%.
- If you started with the 1997 “100 Best” and each year moved that investment to the current “100 Best,” your return would be 134%.
return to top |
