The survey will take place from April 13 to May 8, 2026. Its goal is to obtain an updated picture of the working conditions at the University of Bremen. The university wants to identify which aspects of work are stressful and where supportive resources can be found. Based on these insights, targeted measures will be developed to reduce stress and promote long-term employee health.
High Participation Is Essential
A high response rate is crucial for the survey’s information value. Only if as many employees as possible participate can a representative picture of the current work environment be obtained, enabling targeted improvements to be made. The University of Bremen therefore calls on all employees to participate in the survey and actively contribute to ongoing improvements to working conditions.
All University of Bremen employees are invited to participate. Completing the questionnaire should take approximately 20 minutes. The questionnaire used, the Bielefeld Questionnaire, was specifically developed for universities and has already been successfully implemented at many institutions.
Anonymity Is Guaranteed
The survey focuses on work atmosphere and collaboration. Additional topics include leadership culture, work content and design, international collaboration, and potential experiences of discrimination. The survey also assesses employees’ perceptions of their own health. Open-ended text fields provide space for personal feedback and evaluations.
Anonymity is ensured by data protection measures specially developed in collaboration with the University of Bremen’s data protection officer. University management and administration will only receive summarized, anonymized results.
Initial Results Expected This Summer
Initial results are expected this summer. Following evaluation, key areas for action will be identified and improvement measures developed. Direct and active involvement of employees in this process is planned, for instance by workshops on selected topics.
The last such survey took place in 2018. Since then, working conditions have changed significantly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other societal crises. Going forward, the survey will be conducted every three years to detect developments early and respond proactively.
The Workplace Health Management Office (WHM) is responsible for conducting the survey, with support from the University Executive Board. Various departments and committees are also involved in preparing and implementing the survey, including Occupational Safety, Human Resource Development, Staff Council, and the gender equality commissioners for staff in administration and operations and academic staff. The survey is being conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, which will also handle the analysis.
Further Information:
Workplace Health Management Office (WHM) Website
