In practice, that message is distorted by recruitment, retention and promotion procedures that entrench the status quo.
Our work includes negotiating family-friendly policies such as flexible working, ensuring fair recruitment and promotion procedures, and negotiating adjustments for disabled workers.
Else, who employed her twin sister and promoted her to assistant head, is charged with financial mismanagement and failing to follow recruitment and promotion procedures.
More than one in four ethnic minority staff reported personal experience of discrimination in job applications and 15% in promotion procedures.
"Berufungspraxis an U.S.-amerikanischen Hochschulen" (Statement at an international hearing of the "Wissenschaftsrat" on the reform of appointment and promotion procedures at German universities, Köln, May 2004).
Most importantly, perhaps, women are far more likely to lack knowledge about promotion procedures, and male academic staff are more likely to be appraised as a matter of course than women, which can also effect promotion.
Jobs not being advertised and senior management giving out contracts to their mates happens routinely, and the lack of transparency in recruitment and promotion procedures is a major part of the problem.
When a ranking of scholars is needed, for instance in grant, award, or promotion procedures, their use is the fastest and cheapest way of prioritizing some scientists over others.
Our research revealed a labyrinth of barriers facing managers before they reach senior positions, but it is clear that managers need two complementary strategies to climb the career ladder..The first is formal, focused on achieving ratings of competence and passing promotion procedures.
If you want to nab one of the scarce long-term posts, not only will you need to keep an eye on promotion procedures, you will need to put a huge number of hours in, and may well have to be prepared to work abroad.
