HR goals and objectives aligned with European objectives for researchers
Through its commitment to the HRS4R continuous improvement initiative, CERN wants to foster its attractiveness, preserving and expanding the Laboratory as a source of inspiration and pride for physicists around the world.
CERN’s HR goals and objectives are fully aligned with the Charter and Code principles. They set out to:
- support increased transparency of the recruitment policy and processes;
- support the modernisation of HR by continuously reviewing and optimising HR policies and procedures ;
- foster well-being and an inclusive and respectful workplace;
- contribute to increasing the Organization’s attractiveness;
By its letter of intent to the endorsement of the Charter and Code for Researchers, the Director General confirmed that CERN is deeply committed to the principles and ethos of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
CERN was granted the “Excellence in HR Award” in December 2018.
HRS4HR, a long-term commitment-Roadmap
Involvement in the HRS4R is a voluntary process and a long-term commitment. The HRS4R process consists of three distinct phases: Initial phase, Implementation phase and Renewal phase(s).
During the initial phase, started in 2018, CERN produced and submitted to the European Commission 3 main documents:
- The gap analysis that measures to what extent the Organization meets the 40 principles
- The Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R) Checklist that reports on the status of achievement in terms of the implementation of OTM-R policies and practices. It aims at making research careers more attractive, while facilitating mobility and equal opportunities for all candidates.
- The initial action plan that addresses the improvement needs identified in the Gap Analysis and the OTM-R Checklist.
During the implementation phase started in 2019, CERN deployed the Initial Action Plan and as part of the self-assessment, established in 2022, the status of achievement of those actions.
The implementation of the action plan normally lasts 24 months after receiving the “Excellence in HR Award”. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, a new deadline to submit to the EC the outputs of the self-assessment, “Internal Review Report”, has been granted to CERN. The new target is January 2023.
In 2023, CERN established a revised HRS4R strategy that includes the Revised Action Plan for the next 36 month and increased visibility of the recruitment policy. In addition, it explains how the HRS4R will be implemented internally, and how the involvement of the research community has been fostered.
This revised HRS4R is currently assessed by the EU Commission to ensure that it is further embedded within the Organization’s HR goals and objectives.
In 2026, a new evaluation will take place within the context of the Award Renewal phase. At this stage, an on-site visit from the EC experts will take place.