Results of the 2023 survey of scientific staff

Satisfaction with supervision / leadership support
Satisfaction with supervision during the doctoral thesis and in other research activities is at a good level as well with 67 to 79 rating points at all survey points:

Satisfaction with employment conditions / salary
Satisfaction with salary varies widely between the different scientific staff groups. For example, the group of doctoral students is much more critical than the groups of postdocs and established researchers.

Satisfaction among doctoral students is influenced by the different salary approaches in the departments and varies depending on the department. Departments with predominantly lower rates (rate ‘S’ Standard) show more negative scores, while salary satisfaction is assessed more positively in departments with higher rates.

Due to the challenging inflationary environment, the discussion on the salary system for doctoral students has become intensified.

Mental Health
Overall, participants consider their mental health as good. However, the values for doctoral students and established researchers are slightly lower than in the previous year. The survey results show major differences between the individual departments and the groups surveyed. For example, doctoral students at the time of leaving and female survey participants rated their mental health more critically overall.

Results by scientific staff groups

• Doctoral students at ETH are slightly more satisfied than in the previous year. In particular, they rated the supervision of their doctoral work in the professorship/research group as very respectful and fair at all survey points. The working conditions (working hours, holidays) to allow them to focus on their doctorate are also regarded as very positive. Satisfaction with the salary has decreased on average in this group. It depends strongly on the salary practices of the individual departments and varies accordingly. In addition, mental health is rated as more critical after the doctoral examination than in previous years.
• Postdoctoral researchers continue to be satisfied at a high level at ETH, with rating points between 78 and 80. They assessed the respectful and fair supervision of research work, working conditions (working hours, holidays) as well as remuneration as very high.
• Established researchers show the most significant increase in general satisfaction across all phases of employment. Particularly the satisfaction with the supervision in the professorship/group at the beginning and end of the employment is rated higher. Due to the low number of responses from established researchers (75 responses), the results for this group show greater volatility than those of doctoral students or postdoctoral researchers.

Gender-related characteristics /results

The female respondents were generally more critical than the male respondents. Women were less positive than men about overall satisfaction, mental health, dealing with conflicts and coping with pressure. Female doctoral students were also more critical of pay. This is due to the different salary rates and the gender ratios between the departments. The research plan is rated as more helpful by female doctoral students.

Department-related results

In general, there are considerable differences between the departments in the individual assessments of this survey. The departments receive specific reports to derive and address optimisations and areas for action from their own results.

Optimisation potential and fields of action

Based on the survey of mid-level faculty, ETH sees potential for optimisation and fields of action in the following areas:

Remuneration: The salary situation of doctoral students continues to be discussed and is the subject of a working group led by the Vice President for Personal Development and Leadership, Julia Dannath.
As of 1 March 2023, all rates were increased by 2.5% and as of 1 January 2024 by 1.0%, with the lowest rate S being increased by 5% (see Intern aktuell of 21 November 2023).

Supervision: Supervision of scientific staff should continue to be optimised. The focus here is on providing closer support for doctoral students in critical situations such as the discontinuation of the doctorate, the resignation of the doctoral supervisor, performance problems or long-term absence due to illness.

ETH already provides various aids:

• Guide to the doctorate and Directives for Doctoral Students Employed at ETH Zurich with topics relating to employment conditions, such as employment contracts, holiday entitlement, procedures in the event of illness and rights and obligations during the doctorate.
• Overview of career-related support for doctoral students, postdocs and established researchers.
• Leadership in Practice Toolkit for supervisors with information and materials on typical situations in day-to-day people management.

Mental health: ETH recognises the importance of mental health to its own employees and already gives high priority to this topic. Various support services, some specifically for members of the middle management, are available and are continuously optimised:

• Consulting, help and support
• Dealing with mental challenges
• Overview on health services
• external pageNetwork Crisis & Suicidecall_made
• Lifelong Learning Hub – L3H (interest area: ETH-Nurturing well-being)

The HR partner can also be contacted at any time in the event of mental challenges.

Outlook

The Executive Board took note of the results of the scientific staff survey and the action areas identified in March 2024. It has been decided to continue the survey this year. Information on the results of the 2024 survey will follow next year accordingly.