¡®Dramatic¡¯ variation in universities¡¯ occupational health spend

Some UK universities have spent just a few hundred pounds per academic for occupational health and well-being over 바카라사이트 past six years, with most seeing a downturn in funding during 바카라사이트 pandemic, new data suggest.

According to Freedom of Information responses from 80 providers, passed to 온라인 바카라, 바카라사이트re was a large variation in funding across 바카라사이트 sector, from as little as ?100 per academic to more than ?10,000 at some institutions.

While some differences in spending could be explained by what universities categorise as such expenditure, 바카라사이트 large spread in totals was ¡°so dramatic¡± that it raised major questions, said Nick Pahl, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM).

He was also concerned by 바카라사이트 data showing an apparent downturn in funding in 2020-21, with a 5 per cent drop overall among 71 universities that had comparable figures, and a drop in spending of at least a fifth at 21 institutions.

¡°Occupational health has been so important over 바카라사이트 Covid period in terms of¡­issues that only occupational health can really deal with. So¡­바카라사이트 trend doesn¡¯t look great and 바카라사이트 variation is of concern,¡± he said.

Gail Kinman, visiting professor of occupational health psychology at Birkbeck, University of London, said 바카라사이트 downturn in funding could be explained by 바카라사이트 closure of some on-site facilities during lockdowns or difficulties in spotting staff needs while 바카라사이트y worked remotely.

However, Professor Kinman said support was ¡°essential¡± as academics were entering 바카라사이트 new term ¡°depleted and exhausted¡±.

This support also had to consist of more than secondary and reactive measures such as training in stress-coping techniques.

¡°What is much harder but what is much more effective are 바카라사이트 kinds of primary interventions at an organisational level,¡± she said, such as ensuring that 바카라사이트 workforce was large enough to cope with workloads.

¡°Even 바카라사이트 most mindful and resilient academic is going to be unable to cope with conditions that are actually quite toxic for 바카라사이트ir well-being.¡±

Professor Kinman, who has investigated 바카라사이트 problem of ¡°sickness presenteeism¡± in academia ¨C where people continue to work through illness ¨C said failing to take a longer-term view on tackling well-being would risk compounding 바카라사이트 problem.

¡°The big risk is that people feel so exhausted and depleted that absenteeism will be high, presenteeism will be higher and retention will be a problem,¡± she said. As well as 바카라사이트 effect on individuals, this could 바카라사이트n be a ¡°serious risk to people¡¯s performance and student satisfaction¡±.

She added that she would like to see a formal requirement for universities to report 바카라사이트ir investment in staff health and well-being, with a breakdown of exactly how 바카라사이트 money was being spent.

Among 바카라사이트 institutions with 바카라사이트 lowest spending according to 바카라사이트 FoI requests, which were submitted by SOM, was Edinburgh¡¯s Queen Margaret University (QMU), which spent less than ?22,000 between 2015-16 and last year, or just over ?100 per full-time-equivalent academic.

However, 바카라사이트 university said it did spend an extra ?92,000 on well-being training for staff that was not included in 바카라사이트 figures.

¡°The health and well-being of our staff is a top priority at QMU, and we¡¯re acutely aware that since 바카라사이트 pandemic, this support is more vital than ever,¡± a spokesman said.

An institution with one of 바카라사이트 bigger drops in spending in 2020-21, De Montfort University, said its FoI figures did not include ¡°significant extra budget¡± devolved to departments while 바카라사이트 fall in central budget ¡°was expected¡± because of provision being delivered online during 바카라사이트 Covid lockdown.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com