Respectful Workplace Statement

The (BU) Center for Space Physics (CSP) is committed to maintaining an inclusive, respectful,
and positive work environment. The CSP is a large research unit embedded within BU’s larger
academic environment. The CSP is a dynamic collaboration among tenured faculty,
professional scientists and engineers, and students from multiple academic departments across
the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. Sponsored research is the
engine for success of the CSP. The CSP Principal Investigators (PIs) include both tenure track
faculty and non-tenured research faculty and research scientists. The goal of this document is
to outline a set of best practices that can be adopted by all PI’s and the researchers that they
supervise in order to maintain a positive work environment, while managing the pressures of
sustaining a sponsored research enterprise. These recommendations are intended to augment
BU’s formal policies on behavior and grievances as given in the Faculty Handbook, the
Employee Handbook, and the Responsible Conduct of Research.

PI Responsibilities
1) Establish and document general expectations at the beginning of the appointment. These
may include defining a system for tracking progress, defining protocols for reporting to the PI
(frequency, method, level of detail), expectations for physical presence in the lab or office,
frequency of meetings with the PI, policies for time-off, preferred method of communications,
and any defining elements of research group culture.

2) Maintain an open, respectful, and constructive dialogue. Frequent communication is an
effective way to avoid misunderstandings, monitor progress, and, if necessary, adjust
expectations and modes of interaction. The PI should actively encourage open communication
from staff members and cultivate this by example.

3) Conduct a periodic performance review. Reviews normally occur on an annual basis and can
be more frequent. Reviews should not be treated as part of regular dialogues with the staff
member but should, rather, be scheduled as a dedicated stand-alone performance evaluation.

Researcher Responsibilities and Conflict Resolution. Where possible, the researcher should
maintain an open dialogue with their supervising PI, including communicating any
recommendations that might improve interactions. The researchers have a responsibility to
keep up with the expected work or communicate quickly if this is not possible. In the event
that the discourse becomes unconstructive, disrespectful, or otherwise unprofessional, the
researcher is encouraged to first speak with the CSP Director in an effort to resolve the conflict.
This recommendation does not supersede the university’s formal process for employee
grievances (outlined in Section 206 of the Employee Handbook), which can be pursued if the
former measures are not sufficient.

Summary: This is not rocket science, but common sense. If we all treat each other with
respect, and make the effort to communicate clearly, research can proceed without problems.