Working conditions

Research-friendly work environment and culture

 

The improvement of researchers’ working conditions is the core of the C&C. Actions under this heading contribute to employment stability, to the definition of researchers’ employment rights and obligations, and to the recognition of the researcher’s profession.

Actions that provide conditions that ensure research performance and enable researchers to combine family life and work, children and career.

This section covers actions related to the fundamental principles of European C&C and its commitment to support excellence in research, understood as the promotion of the best possible research teams and projects free of gender and other biases.

These actions contribute to strengthening the principles that underpin the vision of the European Research Area (ERA).

The actions have a cross-cutting character, reflected in all C&C principles, and can therefore be expected to be integrated and taken into account in all other C&C principles.

    • Design and provision of an Attention Service for Research Staff (A26)

    • Creation of a prize related to the novelty in research results and the impact and/or relevance in research (A27)

    • Creation of “The CSIC most relevant PhD Thesis Award” (A28)

    • Promote greater recognition of R1, R2, and R3 in the annual (Jun-Jul) research staff awards (A29) 

    • Investment in basic infrastructures and centres (A30)

    • Conduct a survey on working conditions, including aspects related to: Professional development, mental heath and wellness and workplace and sexual harassment (A31)
    • Implementation of a teleworking pilot programme (A32)
    • Study the feasibility of a R1 and R2 call (FSE application + 2021-2027) (A33)
    • Submit launch proposal to the MSCA-COFUND programme (A34)
    • Study of a new option: indefinite contracts associated with a line of research (A35)
    • Distinguished researchers figure (A36)
    • Call for proposals to the extension of MSCA-IF contracts (A37)
    • Update and publication of the salary tables (A38)
    • To widen the scope of participants who can participate in own calls for mobility/internationalisation (I-link, I-coop) (A39)
    • Creation of a guide or web section on the external mobility of research staff (A40)
    • Dissemination/training info days on the possibilities of European and international programmes (A41)
    • Design and study the implementation of a common tool for the management of stay permits and mobility monitoring (A42)
    • New teaching management application (A43)
    • Search for new formulas for the recognition of teaching (A44)
    • Creation of the “Mediator” figure (A45)
    • Support and collaboration with the R1, R2 and R3 research association
    • At the ICU level, promote the presence of all research staff in the scientific boards (A47)
    • Maintain the meeting of researchers related to the new strategic plans (A48)

Design and provision of an Attention Service for Research Staff (A26)

Description: Design and implementation of a service for the reception welcome and assistance to researchers.

Status: To be launched

Creation of a prize related to the novelty in research results and the impact and/or relevance in research (A27)

Recognizing the profession

Description: Recognition, through an award, of the research work of research staff.

Status: To be launched

Creation of “The CSIC most relevant PhD Thesis Award” (A28)

Recognizing the profession

Description: Encourage professional and academicals recognition of R1 researchers

Status: To be launched

Promote greater recognition of R1, R2, and R3 in the annual (Jun-Jul) research staff awards (A29)

Recognizing the profession

Description: To make visible and promote institutional recognition of the CSIC’s research staff.

Status: To be launched

Investment in basic infrastructures and centres (A30)

Improve work conditions

Description: By May 2021, the milestone of investing more than €20 million in the creation and improvement of institute and center infrastructures had been achieved.

Status: Finished

Conduct a survey on working conditions, including aspects related to: Professional development, mental health and wellness and workplace and sexual harassment (A31)

Improve work conditions

Description: To know the situation of the research personnel in these subjects.

Status: To be launched

Implementation of a teleworking pilot programme (A32)

Improve work conditions

Description: CSIC applies the instructions and rules on teleworking approved by the Spanish Government and the Ministry of Science and Innovation. Telecommuting is contemplated in the work calendar approved annually by the CSIC.

Status: Finished

See document

Study the feasibility of a R1 and R2 call (FSE application + 2021-2027) (A33)

Funding and salaries

Description: Define the procedures to generate a to promote the employability and training of people in order to achieve the EU objectives (If the Ministry of Labour finally gets the funds).

Status: To be launched

Submit launch proposal to the MSCA-COFUND programme (A34)

Funding and salaries

Description: If granted, the CSIC will launch calls for proposals for R1 and R2.

Status: In process

See report

Study of a new option: indefinite contracts associated with a line of research (A35)

Funding and salaries

Description: The labor reform approved by Royal Decree Law 32/2021, of December 28, of urgent measures for the labor reform, the guarantee of employment stability and the transformation of the labor market, generalizes indefinite-term contracts. In addition, Law 17/2022, of 5 September, amending Law 14/2011, of 1 June, on Science, Technology and Innovation, regulates indefinite contracts for scientific and technical activities.

Status: Finished

Distinguished researchers figure (A36)

Improve stability and permanence of employment

Description: Study of the situation of the figure in the CSIC.

Status: In process

Call for proposals to the extension of MSCA-IF contracts (A37)

Improve stability and permanence of employment

Description: Design and launch of a call for proposal to fund and provide stability to MSCA-IF researchers granted and developing the stay in the CSIC.

Status: Continues on a regular basis

See report

Update and publication of the salary tables (A38)

Description: Salary tables are published on the intranet for the information of all staff.

Status: Finished

To widen the scope of participants who can participate in own calls for mobility/internationalisation (I-link, I-coop) (A39)

Increase support for mobility

Description: New more open approach (both as a profile of the applicants and as part of the CSIC team), and reinforcement in own internationalization calls (I-link and I-coop).

Status: In process

See report

Creation of a guide or web section on the external mobility of research staff (A40)

Increase support for mobility

Description: A step-by-step manual for outgoing mobility will be made available to outgoing employees.

Estado: Pendiente de iniciarse

Dissemination/training info days on the possibilities of European and international programmes (A41)

Increase support for mobility

Description: To promote the mobility of research personnel by providing information and training in different national and international possibilities.

Status: In process

See report

Design and study the implementation of a common tool for the management of stay permits and mobility monitoring (A42)

Increase support for mobility

Description: Knowledge, analysis and management of mobility by CSIC research staff (R1, R2 and R3).

Status: In process

New teaching management application (A43)

Increase recognition and facilitate of teaching

Description: Identification, management and analysis of the teaching given by the Rs.

Status: In process

Search for new formulas for the recognition of teaching (A44)

Increase recognition and facilitate of teaching

Description: Search and analysis of possibilities for the recognition of teaching.

Status: In process

Creation of the “Mediator” figure (A45)

 

Description: Mediator, who deals with the complaints/appeals of researchers, including those concerning conflicts between supervisor(s) and researchers.

Status: To be launched

Support and collaboration with the R1, R2 and R3 research association (A46)

Enhance participation in decision-making bodies

Description: CSIC will promote networking, sharing expertise, and the identification of common issues. Also, strengthen the CSIC-Association relationship and mutual interests.

Status: In process

Press release
CSIC PhD researchers Network

At the ICU level, promote the presence of all research staff in the scientific boards (A47)

Enhance participation in decision-making bodies

Description: Raising awareness of participation.

Status: Finished 

See update

Maintain the meeting of researchers related to the new strategic plans (A48)

Enhance participation in decision-making bodies

Description: Since 2021, numerous meetings have been held between the CSIC management team and staff to discuss and monitor the institutional strategy in a process of co-creation. Examples include: a streaming meeting for the development of the “CSIC2025 Strategic Plan”, the “2nd CSIC++ Meeting” with researchers attended by more than 1,200 people, and numerous visits by the Presidency to CSIC centres. Research staff (R1-R3) have been invited and have participated in all the meetings. 

Status: Finished