Employee health and safety care are top priorities for the COR. People make the difference at the UvA. Attention to employees is therefore essential, out of respect for employees and for the primary process in which they work.

The university spends approximately €600 million annually on salary costs. It is estimated that approximately €50 million of this is not used effectively due to absenteeism, physical or mental complaints, or presenteeism, where physically present employees are not (fully) productive because of these complaints. 

Prevention important care duty 

According to the Central Works Council, a significant proportion of these can be influenced. The COR therefore sees prevention as an important care duty for the UvA. The RI&E action plan forms an important basis for shaping this care duty in concrete terms, and for ensuring that policies are noticeable in the workplace.

The COR emphasises that proper implementation requires not only clear policies, but also sufficient attention to implementation within the decentralised structure of the UvA. It is important that policy is translated into concrete and feasible actions for employees and managers.

Approval under conditions

The COR has approved the plan of action subject to a number of conditions. There must be a clear schedule for monitoring and audits, the participation bodies will have right of consent to the plan of action resulting from the audits, and the COR wants insight into how decentralised councils and employees will be involved in the roll-out. The results of the Labour Inspectorate's investigation must also be included in the plan.

Finally, the COR expresses its appreciation for the constructive cooperation with the Executive Board in reaching this agreement.