Stress Tool Question

Stress toolkit

UCU model stress questionnaire Members of the teaching/lecturing staff have been reporting that the increasing levels of stress at work are affecting their health, well-being and job satisfaction. In order to gather evidence, which may be presented to management, the UCU branch/LA is conducting a stress questionnaire. Please answer the following questions. Your replies will be treated in the strictest confidence – we are not asking you to provide your name. Please return the completed form to your UCU reps or direct to ……….. using the attached envelope, by ………… The questionnaire applies to all teaching staff, UCU and non-UCU members alike. We hope that all members of the teaching staff will appreciate the importance of this and take a few minutes to fill it in. You should find it takes no more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Part 1: Background details 1. Please indicate your position/staff grade: Lecturer Part time Lecturer Researcher Senior Lecturer Principal Lecturer Management Post

Please Circle 1 2 3 4 5 6

2. Is your post:

Please Circle 1 2

3. Are you:

Permanent Temporary Male Female

4. Do you consider yourself a disabled person?

Please Circle 1 2 Please Circle Yes No

Model stress questionnaire

5. Are you:

Please Circle 1 2 3

White – British Irish Other Asian/British Bangladeshi Indian Pakistani Other

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Black/Black British African Caribbean Other Mixed White/Asian White/Black African White/Black Caribbean Other Chinese/Other Ethnic Group Chinese Any Other

6. Age:

8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16

Please Circle 1 2 3 4 5

Under 26 26-35 36-45 46-55 56+

7. Which department are you in?..............................................................................

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Model stress questionnaire

Part 2: Stress Symptoms 7. How would you describe your general health 3 years ago and now: Please Circle 3 yrs ago Good Reasonable Poor

Present

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8. Are you experiencing, or have you experienced any of these stress symptoms in the last year? Please Circle Never a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r.

Headaches/migraine Aches and pains High blood pressure Poor sleep patterns Skin Rashes Indigestion Stomach ulcers Asthma Anxiety Depression Heart disease Changes in appetite Exhaustion Increased consumption of tobacco. Increased consumption of alcohol. Inability to concentrate Erratic moods Low self esteem/confidence

Sometimes

Often

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Model stress questionnaire

9. While working do you ever feel: Please circle Never 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

a. Irritated b. Angry c. Frustrated d. Helpless e. Anxious f. Depressed g. Unable to concentrate h. Over tired

Sometimes 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Often 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

10. Have you taken leave in the past 12 months due to work related stress? Please Circle Yes 1

11. If Yes, how long for? A few days 1

No 2

Please Circle one week 2

two weeks 3

longer 4

12. Have stress related symptoms returned on your return to work? Please circle Yes 1

No 2

13. Has your GP suggested that your condition was due to your work? Please circle Yes 1

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No 2

Model stress questionnaire

14. Are you receiving treatment from your GP for stress related symptoms? Please Circle Yes 1

No 2

Part 3: Workload 15. Please estimate the average number of hours per week that you work (both on and off site) during term time. Please circle 30 – 35 36- - 40 41 – 45 46 – 50 51 +

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16. (a) Please indicate how, if at all, your total workload has changed over the last five years, and two years Please circle

Workload has decreased Remained the same Workload increased

5 years

2 years

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1 2 3

If your workload has increased, please go to questions 16b & 17 below. If your workload has decreased or remained the same, please go to question 18.

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Model stress questionnaire

16 (b) If your workload has increased, please indicate below the approximate extent by which it has changed. Workload has increased by:

Please circle Over 5 years 1 2 3 4 5

a. about a quarter b. about a half c. about three quarters d. about double e. more than double

Over 2 years 1 2 3 4 5

17. If your workload has increased please indicate on the scale below: a. which factors have been significant in causing the increase b. which single factor has contributed most to your increased workload. Significant factors (You may select more than one) (please circle) Factors Changes in conditions of service Teaching new courses Admin (general) Increased student numbers Inspection/auditing processes Meeting targets/deadlines Keeping up with new ed. initiatives Need to generate income Requirement to undertake research Other (please specify below)

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Single most important factor (choose one only please) (please circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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Model stress questionnaire

Part 4: Factors Causing Stress 18. Which factors associated with your current post do you think create work related stress? Please circle on the scale below, how significant each of these factors are: Not applicable

Occasionally stressful

Stressful

Very Stressful

a Dealing with student discipline b larger classes/more students c Dealing with aggressive/violent behaviour

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d Teaching new courses

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e Dealing with new education initiatives

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f Administration g Frequent changes to timetable or courses

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h Increased workload

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i Need to hit targets/deadlines

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j Long working hours k Increase in temporary/ part time contracts

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l Inspection/auditing processes

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m Lone working

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n Off site/multi site working

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o Traveling time

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p Lack of regular breaks

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q Staff appraisal r Presenteeism – feeling unable to take time-off sick

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Stress related factors Demands

Control a Not able to exert control over demands made b Lack of participation in decision making c Dealing with competing demands – unable to plan working day d Work linked to deadlines & targets 7

Model stress questionnaire

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Very Stressful 4

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a Conflicting demands in job role b Unclear job description

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c Lack of support in job role

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d Efforts not valued e Lack of participation in decision making f Lack of promotion prospects g Lack of career development opportunities h Poor pay prospects due to hourly paid /agency worker status

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a Pace and intensity of change

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b New educational initiatives

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Stress related factors e Changes in terms & conditions without consultation f Job changes without consultation

Not applicable 1

Occasionally stressful 2

1 1

g Lack of funds/resources/ support to do the job h Given responsibility without the authority to take decisions i Insufficient time for scholarship and/or research

Stressful

Relationships a Bullying behaviour from managers/ staff/ students b Harassment by managers/ staff/ students c Dealing with conflictual situations d Lack of line management support e Feeling isolated in curriculum area f Lack of communication with staff g New styles of institutional management h Feeling that your work is not valued i Lack of involvement and information as hourly paid lecturer Role

Change

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Model stress questionnaire

Not applicable 1

Occasionally stressful 2

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Very Stressful 4

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e Uncertainty due to merger f Pressures from funding organizations g Impact of restructuring on workload/job responsibilities h Large increases in numbers of part time/temporary staff

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i Changes without consultation j Lack of participation in decision making

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a Lack of information about what is going on

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b Insufficient admin support

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c Feeling work not valued d Lack of management support e Limited or no access to training f Over competitive/ confrontational institutional culture g Lack of funds/resources to do the job h Lack of facilities, eg photocopiers i Lack of facilities and support due to hourly paid status

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Stress related factors c High degree of uncertainty about work due to re-organization d High degree of uncertainty due to restructuring & redundancies

Stressful

Support

Part 5: Overview 19. What do you see yourself doing five years from now? Working in the same post Working in a promoted post Working for another establishment in a similar post Working for another establishment in a promoted post Change career – no longer teaching Retired

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Please circle 1 2 3 4 5 6

Model stress questionnaire

20. What are the two things, which would make a significant difference to the stress concerns identified above? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21. Please use the space below to provide any other information or comments you wish to make about Lecturer’s workload and factors affecting levels of stress. ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ Thank you for taking the time to fill in the questionnaire. (If you are not a UCU member you are welcome to join. Please contact ……………………………..for an application form).

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