Code of conduct at Department of Health Science and Technology

The survey investigated core values defining a good working environment – and the results were analysed, summarised, and thematised to produce a new HST employee-driven Code of Conduct.

Working environment values at HST

HST now has a new Code of Conduct based on staff members’ working environment values.

Process and method

Working environment representatives of HST developed a new Code of Conduct based on the results of a survey completed by approximately 70 staff members at the department. The survey investigated core values defining a good working environment – and the results were analysed, summarised, and thematised to produce a new HST employee-driven Code of Conduct. The aim of this employee-driven Code of Conduct is to communicate how we can maintain a healthy sustainable working environment together at HST.

Made by HST staff members

We thank all the staff members that contributed to this work. All answers have been thoroughly discussed and have been included in an executive summary which has been presented and handed over to HST’s management.

Working environment values constituting this Code of Conduct is outlined below.

ACT WITH INTEGRITY

Staff members of HST describe a good colleague as: A loyal team player - prioritizing your team’s gain over your own individual gain accommodates a healthy working environment.

Greet your colleagues with a smile.
Acknowledge and respect your colleagues – make the effort to recognize the values that they each represent and contribute with.
Support and stand up for your colleagues – acknowledge your own and others’ strengths and weaknesses.
Respect your colleagues’ working methods, lifestyle, and life situation.
Help promote an inclusive working environment – be curious, spread positive energy, and act accommodating towards new and existing colleagues.
Respect your colleagues’ area of expertise and their appointed responsibility within a specific area.
Show appreciation – it often leads to motivation.

RESPECT YOUR COLLEAGUES’ TIME & WORKING HOURS

HST staff members find that “respecting your colleague” plays an important role to maintain and develop a sustainable and healthy common working environment.

Respect and accept that:

Your colleague might have a different view on work/life balance – and thereby different needs.
Staff members have different employment contracts – they might have specific agreements which differs from yours.
Your colleagues might periodically face challenges relating to work or to their personal life – be supportive.

Another important aspect is to match expectations with your colleagues and leaders (realistic deadlines, status frequency, evaluation, etc.). Other specific findings from the survey relate to use of e-mail and calendar:

E-mail culture

Respect that your colleague might work different hours than you. Acknowledge this by e.g.:

Send mails during “official office hours” only (unless otherwise agreed).
Use Outlook’s “postpone delivery” function.
Discuss “mail culture” with your team/group and leader.

Calendar culture

Arrange meetings within “official office hours”.
Leave room for breaks in your colleagues’ calendars.
Set realistic time slots for the meetings you arrange.

ACT WITH CARE & FOCUS ON BETTERMENT

Act with care & Focus on betterment

Staff members of HST are keen on maintaining “a good tone”. Any kind of suppressive behavior (bullying or harassment) is not acceptable. At HST we treat each other with respect – also when we take different standpoints.

It is a matter of course that staff members should not be treated differently or disrespectful based on sex, age, ethnicity, or language.

Respect your colleague’s knowledge and area of professional expertise – be curious, not judgemental.
Be considerate. Give your colleagues constructive feedback – only justified criticism is acceptable.
Speak well of your colleagues – share a good story about a colleague’s research, task handling, teaching, etc.
Dare to mention “the elephant in the room” if you experience bullying or harassment or contact your leader or your working environment representative.
If you experience bullying or harassment of your colleague, support him/her.