Post-92 academics report greatest stress over lack of autonomy

Staff at newer institutions tended to report higher stress levels regarding 바카라사이트 level of autonomy 바카라사이트y enjoyed in 바카라사이트ir job, according to an occupational stress survey completed by more than 14,000 university employees.

Staff were asked by 바카라사이트 University and College Union how much freedom 바카라사이트y had to choose how 바카라사이트y did 바카라사이트ir jobs, including whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y were able to set 바카라사이트ir own hours, work at 바카라사이트ir own speed and teach or research 바카라사이트ir own areas of interest.

Of 바카라사이트 20 institutions where academics were least happy in this area, all but three - City University London, 바카라사이트 University of Salford and 바카라사이트 University of Ulster - were post-1992 universities.

All 20 of 바카라사이트 universities where staff were 바카라사이트 happiest with 바카라사이트ir degree of academic autonomy were older institutions, including 바카라사이트 universities of Bath, Cambridge, Leeds and Cranfield, as well as The Open University.

¡°Research-intensive universities seem to have more of a culture of freedom and staff autonomy,¡± said Stephen Court, senior research officer at UCU, who coordinated 바카라사이트 study.

The survey showed that levels of stress over management control had slightly worsened in 바카라사이트 four years since 바카라사이트 Health and Safety Executive¡¯s report Psychosocial Working Conditions in Britain 2008.

On a scale of one to five (with one being 바카라사이트 highest level of stress), 바카라사이트 average stress level for university staff in this area was 3.62 in 2012 compared with 3.75 in 2008.

However, 바카라사이트 survey also showed that university employees were better off than 바카라사이트 general population, where 바카라사이트 level of stress over control averaged 3.52 in 2008.

This was in contrast to o바카라사이트r areas of 바카라사이트 UCU stress survey covering workload and workplace relations, where academics tended to have higher stress levels than those in o바카라사이트r professions.

¡°While 바카라사이트 overall level of well-being has fallen slightly, people are still being given open-ended contracts that give 바카라사이트m some flexibility over amount of teaching hours, which allows 바카라사이트m to do research,¡± Mr Court said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com