As a measure to improve the working environment, the Department of Literature, Area Studies and European Languages wanted to spend 100 000 kroner on new signs for the corridors.

2008-10-01 På norsk

The Faculty of Humanities (HF) has now granted 1 780 000 kroner for measures that will improve the working environment at the faculty, after the study last year that showed that 12,5 per cent of all employees at HF feel that they are being bullied. All seven HF institutes were granted everything that they applied for, apart from the Department of Literature, Area Studies and European Languages (ILOS). They were hoping for new signs in their corridors, and applied for 100 000 kroner of the funds that were earmarked to solve the problem of bullying and improve the working environment at the faculty.

-Would have improved internal communications

Head of Department Per Winther admits that it was optimistic to hope for funds for the sign project.

- We were fully prepared for our application not going through, says Winther, who thinks that the sign project could have improved internal communications in the corridors.

The institute applied for corridor signs at 15 000 – 20 000 kroner a piece. HF rejected funds for signs, as this did not belong in the project.

- The technical department is responsible for the signs. If we are to put up new signs, we will do it for the whole of HF, and not as part of the working environment project, says faculty director Anne Ma Eide.

ILOS were also refused funds for developing «events such as wine tasting, cheese galas [and] excursions».

- All the measures that have been granted money have as far as I know been new measures. ILOS were rejected on this point because this would have been developing an existing activity, Eide says.

Despite there being no money for new signs, wine or cheese, Winther is happy.

- We got good results, and were in fact the institute that was granted the most money, says Winther, who is pleased with the 230 000 they received.

Furniture against bullying

- Some of the money is being spent on new furniture. Why will this improve the problem of bullying in the working environment?

- Because they are being used for a new meeting place for employees, something that we have needed for a long time, Winther says.

Ellen Dalen, leader of the Norwegian Civil Service Union (NTL) at the University of Oslo (UiO) is sceptical to the measures being initiated at HF.

- Sitting around and talking about furniture for a meeting room is unimportant. You must take hold of the structural problems, Dalen says.

She believes that the bullying at HF and the rest of UiO is really down to employees being left out when vital decisions are being made, especially concerning academic priorities.

- It is easy to misinterpret criticism relating to academic matters as personal attacks. People who have dedicated their whole lives to a scientific area will feel bullied when their subject is cancelled with one stroke of a pen, Dalen says.

Whether or not the measures have made any difference will be made clear in 2010, when according to the plan the faculty will go through with a new survey among employees.

Jørgen Brynhildsvoll • Paul Anthony Wilson (photography) • Translated by Anna Young