The University of Wisconsin-Madison Human Resources redesign project will be released to the campus community Friday after over a year of development, with a goal of improving university employee recruitment and retainment in response to the recent decline in state support.
According to an advanced copy of the plan sent to The Daily Cardinal by the Wisconsin University Union, the redesign aims to maintain the university’s reputation as a world-class institution by improving employee benefits to attract talented faculty and staff.
The plan would allow employees to transfer saved sick days, health insurance eligibility and vacation time if they move to UW-Madison from other UW System campuses.
The redesign would also improve employee compensation, including a recommendation to reward faculty and staff by paying them based on performance.
Additionally, the project details a plan to record and analyze workforce demographics to better ensure employment as well as advancement opportunities are fair and include a diverse range of employees.
According to Robert Lavigna, director of human resources and project leader, the flexibilities granted to the university in the new plan would allow for “a community and workforce of the 21st century that is engaged, is diverse, has the right talent and is also adaptable.”
“We are committed to the Wisconsin Idea, which is to develop and create knowledge that enriches the state, the nation and the world,” Lavigna said. “In order to do that we have to have the best talent and we have to have the flexibility to attract and hire the best talent.”
Another portion of the new plan would benefit the current employee category of “classified staff,” which includes university clerks and office employees, by allowing the group to formally express their concerns to administration.
Lavigna said the project team plans to hold informational sessions to request further campus feedback before bringing the plan’s final draft to the UW System Board of Regents for approval in their November or December meeting.
“We’re very excited to bring this plan to the campus and to engage in this conversation,” Lavigna said. “We hope that everyone across the campus... will engage in this conversation.”
If the Regents approve the plan, it will advance to the state legislature for final approval this spring.
