Genis Lab Ex-post Gender Survey: summary of results
Before the end of the Genis Lab project the Genis Lab Ex-post Gender Survey (November 2014) was
formed and performed among NIC Slovenia's employees on the initiative of Mrs. Benedetta Magri,
representative of technical project partner ITC/ILO. The results represent together with the initial
Genis Lab Gender Survey (March 2011) an important component of qualitative gender analysis of
career, resource allocation and organizational culture. Their results will be of valuable assistance in
further aspiration for implementation of gender equality at NIC Slovenia.
The questionnaire consisted of same questions (in majority, which we found important for the
comparison to the results of the survey from 2011), including a range of questions on gender equality
ad acquaintance of employees with gender equality issues dealt with in the Genis Lab project.
The survey was in English which hastened its dissemination and processing of data; the linguistic
capacities of employees made this possible. Questions were formulated that allowed to collect
information on: demography of employees, family responsibilities, carrier paths, professional and
personal life balance, needs and perceptions about gender equality, organizational expertise and
culture on gender equality, working conditions, etc. Results of the survey are presented in the
Enclosure. The questionnaire was anonymous. This online survey is not a scientifically rigorous tool
and the statistical significance is limited by the fact that only 18% of employees responded to it, but
it provides valuable insights with some quantitative sense and a base line on the topics it includes.
There were 53 total responses of which 44 responses were complete. Participants were 42 female
and 11 male respondents in the on-line survey (18% of overall NIC Slovenia's employees) ranging
from technicians and administrative staff to senior researchers, with the following characteristics1:
67% aged 25–35
30% women, 55% men: PhD
63% women, 45% men: ISCED 5
73% women, 64% men: fixed term contract
8% women, 18% men: PhD students
1
The online Genis Lab Gender Survey performed in 2011 counted 76 respondents (26% of overall NIC staff), 49
female and 27 male, with the following characteristics:
70% aged 25–35
51% women, 37% men: PhD
43% women, 52% men: ISCED 5
72% women, 36% men: fixed term contract
11% women, 41% men: PhD students
73% researchers, the rest combined: administrative support (10%), technologists and technicians (17%)
European 7th Framework Programme Project GENIS LAB (The Gender in Science and Technology LAB
Projekt 7. Okvirnega programa GENIS LAB (Enakost spolov v znanosti, tehnološki laboratorij)
National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia / Kemijski inštitut
54% researchers, the rest combined: managers (4%), administrative support (23%), technologists and
technicians (19%).
According to the Gender Survey 2011 65% of respondents to the on-line survey were not sure about
the effectiveness of the initiatives to promote gender equality undertaken so far at NIC Slovenia. This
was a confirmation that genis Lab was timely initiative that could address some needs in this regard.
In Ex-post Gender Survey employees were asked about their opinion if Genis Lab project changed the
way in which gender equality is dealt with at NIC Slovenia – 49% of female and 45% of male
respondents think that Genis Lab project had some effect on dealing with gender equality at the
Institute.
98% of the online survey respondents work full time. In terms of preferred type of work time
arrangements, 67% of women and 64% of men surveyed are satisfied with their current and actual
hours of work. 18% of men and 10% of women respondents said they always work overtime, 41% of
women and 18% of men said to frequently work overtime.
38% of respondents (80% in the survey 2011) said they would prefer to have flexible working hours.
78% of respondents have never asked to re-arrange their working time, but of those who asked their
request was granted fully or partially (20% of respondents). There are informal arrangements for
researches for teleworking whereby they can agree with the supervisor to work from home however
no procedure is in place to regulate it and it is used seldom. 21% of women (9% in the survey 2011)
and 27% of men (29% in the survey 2011) would prefer teleworking if it was possible. None of men
and 3% of women respondents would consider working part-time.
The survey also shows that women still bear the largest part of the family responsibilities – in the
forms of domestic chores, care for children, and care for other members of the family.
80% of women (83% in the survey 2011) and 73% of men (53% in the survey 2011) said that their
family-related commitments have to one extent or the other interfered with their work. Very similar
to results of the survey 2011, 84% of women and 73% of men say that their job has affected their
family relationships to some extent.
A large number of respondents to the on-line survey however agreed that women are less
represented at the top because the existing criteria for career advancement favour men – 95% of
women (89% in the survey 2011) and 36% of men (60% in the survey 2011) agreed totally or partially
with the statement.
According to the online survey, women would be less represented at the top because they bear most
of the family responsibilities; 98% of women (89% in the survey 2011) and all men (87% in the survey
2011) agreed with this. On the other hand in the online survey 65% of men respondents do not see
European 7th Framework Programme Project GENIS LAB (The Gender in Science and Technology LAB
Projekt 7. Okvirnega programa GENIS LAB (Enakost spolov v znanosti, tehnološki laboratorij)
National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia / Kemijski inštitut
women leaders as not being family oriented while 64% of female respondents say women at the top
are not family oriented. Though the trends of parenting seem to be changing towards a more
equitable share of responsibilities, there are persisting stereotypes of women as mothers and men as
leaders and providers. The on-line survey indicates women as well as men tend to agree with these
perceptions.
89% of women and 82% of men agree that men have more time for work. It is interesting to compare
the use of time at the workplace by men and women, since evidently it is one of the determining
factors for the successful advancement of men’s career. Women and men both invest quite equal
time in tasks for which they are overqualified either because they think everyone in the team do the
same or because other team members avoid them (56% of women (63% in the survey 2011) and 64%
of men (37% in the survey 2011) do so).
The online survey show that leadership traits are actively encouraged in male researchers, both by
their peers and institutional practice. In the on-line survey 63% of men (89% in the survey 2011) and
52% of women (61% in the survey 2011) say that they present their or their team’s research work
every time they deem it appropriate, however 24% of women (30% in the survey 2011) and 38% of
men (none in the survey 2011) said that they do not do it as much as they would like to.
33% (48% in the survey 2011) of all respondents to the survey (55% of men (83% in the survey 2011)
and 26% of women (34% in the survey 2011)) think that the system for allocation of research funds
allows a fair distribution between men and women researchers. Men more than women respectively 27% of men (77% in the survey 2011) and 27% of women (39% in the survey 2011)thought that the system for the allocation of resources (including equipment, labs, funds...) is
transparent and accessible to all. Women more than men think the same is partially or not
transparent at all – 65% of women (46% in the survey 2011) and of 45% of men (18% in the survey
2011).
“Discussing gender equality”
88% of women (95% in the survey 2011) and 82% of men (88% in the survey 2011) say they pay
attention to ensuring respectful working relations between men and women. 69% of all respondents
try to actively understand whether male and female colleagues have different interests and
problems. There is a positive pattern of engagement of women and of men to assisting colleagues in
solving problems.
European 7th Framework Programme Project GENIS LAB (The Gender in Science and Technology LAB
Projekt 7. Okvirnega programa GENIS LAB (Enakost spolov v znanosti, tehnološki laboratorij)
National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia / Kemijski inštitut
Genis Lab Ex-post Gender Survey shows similar results as those of the survey 2011 that there is
however not much deliberate dialogue regarding gender equality within NIC Slovenia. Interesting are
results of male respondents, since 29% of men responded they often engage in a dialogue on gender
equality, since based on responds to the survey 2011 none of them practiced such dialogues with
colleagues.
Concerning employees being aquainted with gender issues the survey results show some progress in
comparison to the survey 2011. When asked about Genis Lab project and its activities at NIC Slovenia
respondents showed relatively great extent of acquaintance with that. 61% of women and 64% of
men said they are aware of the campaign on women in science that was realised at NIC Slovenia.
36% of women and 27% of men saw the videoclip developed by the NIC Slovenia in Genis Lab
project, which promotes awareness on the role of women in scientific research. The majority of
employees (86% of women and 64% of men) did not comment the campaign or the video together
with their colleagues and did not notice the use of gender sensitive language (masculine and
feminine forms) in the Institute's official documents (64% of women and 55% of men). Nevertheless
the majority of respondents (97% of women and 73% of men) agree on the idea that we need to be
more aware of the important role of women in scientific research. 37% of women and 64% of men
think that NIC Slovenia sufficiently translates its gender equality policy into practice. Respondents are
in majority aware of the campaign on women in science that was realised at NIC Slovenia (61% of
female and 64% of male respondents).
54% of women and 35% of men think that gender equality and the recognition of women's
contibution are very important to the achievement of excellence of NIC Slovenia.
Respondents (41% of women and 81% of men) say that NIC Slovenia has sufficient means (both
human and financial resources) available to achieve the aims of the gender policy.
A survey could be periodically applied (a simplified version of the Genis Lab Ex-post Gender Survey
questionnaire) to collect data that show the trends in gender equality within NIC Slovenia and use
the results for information campaigns and education.
Ljubljana, December 4th 2014
Polona Pečnik
Genis Lab Project manager at NIC Slovenia
European 7th Framework Programme Project GENIS LAB (The Gender in Science and Technology LAB
Projekt 7. Okvirnega programa GENIS LAB (Enakost spolov v znanosti, tehnološki laboratorij)
National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia / Kemijski inštitut