What is Human Resource all about?
- A workplace built on equal opportunities, respect and inclusion for all.
- Transparent recruitment and professional development processes.
- Ethical conduct guided by European and national research integrity frameworks.
- Occupational wellbeing and safety as a cornerstone of our working culture.
People are at the heart of IREC. The quality of our research depends on the quality of our working lives, so we focus on creating a centre where everyone feels welcome, respected and able to do their best work, whatever their background or career stage.
Our HR policies support everyday life at the institute. They set shared expectations around professional conduct, equal opportunities and a healthy working environment, helping to safeguard the dignity and wellbeing of everyone at IREC.
Our recruitment and development processes are designed to be clear and consistent. They are open to researchers and professional staff at different stages of their careers, from doctoral candidates to experienced leaders.
The principles of the European Charter for Researchers give us a clear reference point. Integrity, academic freedom and mutual respect guide how we organise work and how we support the people who do it.
As a publicly funded research centre, we are conscious of the trust placed in us. The information on this page explains the main policies and frameworks that shape working life at IREC.
Policies & workplace standards
The documents below set out IREC’s HR policies currently in force.
Workplace environment and ethics
Equality plan
Framework and measures to promote equal opportunities and prevent discrimination.
Policy to avoid conflict of interests
Rules to prevent and manage conflicts of interest in professional activity.
Policy to prevent harassment at work
Prevention and response procedures for harassment in the workplace.
Catalan language strengthening plan
Actions to promote and normalise the use of Catalan at IREC.
Recruitment and career development
Talent recruitment policy
Principles and criteria governing recruitment and selection processes.
Professional career plan
Professional development framework, including progression and recognition criteria.
Policy on PhD fellows and master students
Conditions and guidelines for the hosting and supervision of students.
Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R)
In 2025, on 19th June, IREC formally endorsed the 20 principles of the European Charter for Researchers and committed to their implementation via the Human Resources Excellence in Research award process. As an organisation dedicated to excellence in research, we prioritise the well-being and career development of our researchers. We recognise the importance of creating a stimulating and supportive environment that fosters researchers’ growth, mobility, and success. By engaging with the HR Excellence in Research award process, we aim to embed the Charter’s principles into our institutional policies and practices, ensuring a stimulating and supportive environment for our researchers. Below you will find the Endorsement Letter and the Action Plan for the period 2026–2030. Currently, we are under assessment of the documents submitted to the European Commission, with the objective of being awarded the HRS4R award and deploying the first actions of the Action Plan.
Endorsement Letter
Formal commitment by IREC to the European Charter for Researchers and the HRS4R process.
Action Plan (ES)
Planned actions for 2026–2030 to align IREC’s HR practices with HRS4R principles. (Spanish version)
Action Plan (EN)
Planned actions for 2026–2030 to align IREC’s HR practices with HRS4R principles. (English version)
Code of conduct
Through its commitment to excellence, research integrity and talent development, IREC aligns its policies with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers. Research must always be conducted in good faith, with honesty and integrity, grounded in solid ethical principles that encompass freedom of inquiry, respect for human dignity and responsibility towards society.
European Framework: European Charter for Researchers
IREC adheres to the European Charter for Researchers (2023), which defines the rights and responsibilities of researchers and institutions to strengthen an attractive, inclusive and sustainable research ecosystem. This framework is essential for ensuring high-quality research that upholds the trust society places in science.
The Charter is structured around 20 key principles organised into four core pillars:
- Ethics, integrity, gender equality and open science: fostering responsible and accessible research.
- Assessment, recruitment and career progression: transparent, merit‑based selection processes.
- Working conditions and practices: safe, stable and flexible working environments.
- Research careers and talent development: support for continuous training and mentoring.
In addition, IREC adopts the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity as a self‑regulation framework. These principles include:
- Reliability: ensuring quality in the design, methodology and analysis of research.
- Honesty: communicating research in a transparent, fair and impartial manner.
- Respect: for colleagues, participants, society and the environment.
- Accountability: from the initial idea through to publication and its social impact.
European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
Guidelines on good research practice across research disciplines
National framework: CERCA Code of Ethics and Conduct
As a research centre within the public sector of the Generalitat de Catalunya, IREC formally adheres to the CERCA Institution’s Code of Ethics and Conduct. This document sets out the legal and operational framework that guides the work of all our staff.
IREC’s seven key commitments on ethics and good conduct are:
- I. Defence of human and democratic rights: ensuring an environment free from discrimination on any grounds and promoting respect for diversity and free debate.
- II. Scientific integrity and good practice: ensuring that research is carried out honestly, avoiding misconduct and declaring any conflicts of interest.
- III. Equal treatment and non‑discrimination: safeguarding equal opportunities and promoting a workplace free from abusive behaviour or abuse of power.
- IV. Gender equity and feminist perspective: incorporating a gender perspective, promoting work–life balance and working to eliminate the glass ceiling and the gender pay gap.
- V. Guarantee of linguistic rights: promoting Catalan as the normal language of use and managing multilingualism in a way that respects linguistic rights and the reality of the country.
- VI. Transparency and open science: facilitating access to knowledge generated under the FAIR principles and fostering citizen science and public accountability.
- VII. Ethics in the use of artificial intelligence (AI): ensuring that the use of AI complies with current regulations, following criteria of transparency, safety and responsibility.
CERCA Code of Ethics and Conduct
Guidelines on good research practice across research disciplines
Remuneration & staffing transparency
This section provides information on remuneration and staffing, in line with applicable transparency and good governance requirements.
Professional career plan
Salary bands and reference tables applicable at IREC.
Complements to salaries
Additional remuneration complements and their applicable conditions.
List of permanent and temporary job positions
Record of all current and fixed-term roles within the Institute.
Management staff & remuneration
Annual gross remuneration of IREC’s management staff.
Occupational health & safety
Occupational risk prevention and emergency procedures are published under Transparency > Institutional information & governance.