Best Practices in Action: Shared Solutions to Improve Staff Well-Being and Health at Work (BASIS)

General Overview

BASIS unites diverse contributors – researchers, administrative staff, union representatives and students – in a project to enhance workplace well-being across European universities. 

Through collaborative research, BASIS aims to identify staff needs and determine effective actions for improving quality of life at work. The project will create shared solutions and initiate a cycle to achieve lasting improvement of staff health and well-being.

Purpose and Significance

High stress levels among university staff due to workload, deadlines and professional uncertainty have a negative impact on work-life balance and health. While institutions possess individual policies to improve health and well-being at work, BASIS aims to gain a comprehensive overview of practices by combining analysis from health, sociology, human resources, labour relations, equality, inclusion and communication perspectives. 

This project is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of existing initiatives across participating universities. Based on staff feedback, the findings will help formulate recommendations and design activities that genuinely improve workplace well-being and maintain this dynamic over time.
 

Logo for the BASIS project: abstract forms of people and a leaf in a heart-shaped composition

Implementation Method and Timeline

Participating partners include the University of Florence (coordinator), Nantes Université (co-lead), University of Konstanz, Linnaeus University, University of Murcia, University of Santiago de Compostela and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

The project involves academic staff, administrative staff and students from these institutions who will contribute their expertise in fields such as sociology, human resources, law and sustainable development.

  • Mapping of Initiatives: The project will begin by mapping existing workplace initiatives for well-being and health across all participating universities, based on information gathered by the HR working group.
  • Staff Survey: A comprehensive, multilingual "Good Day/Bad Day" survey will be conducted between July and October 2025. Open to all university staff, this survey will use open-ended questions that allow respondents to freely describe positive and negative workday experiences, identify institutional practices affecting their well-being and state their priorities regarding health (mental and physical), diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), equipment and collegial relationships.
  • Analysis and Recommendations: Survey results will be analysed to identify best practices, recurring issues and common elements across institutions. These findings will contribute to formulating a shared statement of general recommendations.
  • Action Plan Development: An in-person team meeting is planned for autumn 2025 to present survey results, collaboratively write recommendations and create an action plan of relevant, financially viable activities.
  • Implementation and Monitoring: Universities will be supported in taking the first steps towards implementing recommendations. Regular online follow-up meetings (on an approximately monthly basis from October 2025 to May 2026) will monitor the action plan's progress.
     

Expected Outcomes

The BASIS project aims to establish a lasting foundation for the well-being of all university staff.

Key expected outcomes include:

  • A dynamic and sustainable working group, comprising diverse experts and administrative staff, dedicated to well-being and health at work.
  • Development and promotion of pertinent, concrete actions that improve working lives, making EUniWell's impact tangible to staff members by moving beyond simply sharing best practices.
  • Recommendations based on a study of effective policies, provided to alliance universities along with support for the tailored implementation of relevant activities.
  • Ultimately, improved health and well-being at work, achieved by enhancing work-life balance, promoting professional development, strengthening team spirit and improving daily mental and physical health.
     

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