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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lecturers 'made ill by workload' | Lecturers 'made ill by workload' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nearly half of lecturers have been ill because of their job, a poll suggests. | Nearly half of lecturers have been ill because of their job, a poll suggests. |
| About 1,000 lecturers were asked about different aspects of their work in a YouGov poll commissioned by the University and College Union (UCU). | About 1,000 lecturers were asked about different aspects of their work in a YouGov poll commissioned by the University and College Union (UCU). |
| More than 40% said bureaucracy was the worst part of their job and nearly two-thirds said they had considered leaving the UK to work abroad. | More than 40% said bureaucracy was the worst part of their job and nearly two-thirds said they had considered leaving the UK to work abroad. |
| The findings are published as a new charity is launched to help stressed staff in higher and further education. | The findings are published as a new charity is launched to help stressed staff in higher and further education. |
| The College and University Support Network (CUSN) is a development of the Teacher Support Network, which primarily helps school staff but had found that increasingly it was being approached by lecturers with problems. | The College and University Support Network (CUSN) is a development of the Teacher Support Network, which primarily helps school staff but had found that increasingly it was being approached by lecturers with problems. |
| It will be the first dedicated national counselling telephone support line for university and college lecturers, and their families. | It will be the first dedicated national counselling telephone support line for university and college lecturers, and their families. |
| The union survey also found just over half (52%) had considered leaving the profession for the private sector, while 55% said they would not recommend the job to their children. | The union survey also found just over half (52%) had considered leaving the profession for the private sector, while 55% said they would not recommend the job to their children. |
| Universities must take the lead on this issue of excessive workloads or we risk losing a generation of talented academics Sally Huntgeneral secretary | Universities must take the lead on this issue of excessive workloads or we risk losing a generation of talented academics Sally Huntgeneral secretary |
| In response, the union has called for universities to do more to ensure lecturers are not forced out of the sector. | In response, the union has called for universities to do more to ensure lecturers are not forced out of the sector. |
| UCU joint general secretary Sally Hunt said: "Universities must take the lead on this issue of excessive workloads or we risk losing a generation of talented academics to the private sector or abroad as well as struggling to fill future vacancies." | UCU joint general secretary Sally Hunt said: "Universities must take the lead on this issue of excessive workloads or we risk losing a generation of talented academics to the private sector or abroad as well as struggling to fill future vacancies." |
| She wants universities to sign up to a similar agreement to that reached by the government with doctors and nurses to reduce extreme workloads. | She wants universities to sign up to a similar agreement to that reached by the government with doctors and nurses to reduce extreme workloads. |
| Work-life balance | Work-life balance |
| The Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which represents higher education employers, dismissed the survey as "extremely limited and vague". | The Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which represents higher education employers, dismissed the survey as "extremely limited and vague". |
| It said employers always supported the development of a healthy work-life balance and worked with unions in all aspects of employee relations. | It said employers always supported the development of a healthy work-life balance and worked with unions in all aspects of employee relations. |
| And the Higher Education Minister, Bill Rammell, said there was no evidence to indicate lecturers were leaving the profession. | And the Higher Education Minister, Bill Rammell, said there was no evidence to indicate lecturers were leaving the profession. |
| He added that the government was committed to reducing externally imposed bureaucracy but stressed institutions should look closely at the balance of their employees' responsibilities. | He added that the government was committed to reducing externally imposed bureaucracy but stressed institutions should look closely at the balance of their employees' responsibilities. |
| Relationship difficulties | Relationship difficulties |
| Universities UK, a group for vice chancellors, said universities were working with the government to tackle bureaucracy but admitted more needed to be done. | Universities UK, a group for vice chancellors, said universities were working with the government to tackle bureaucracy but admitted more needed to be done. |
| A spokesman for the group said it was important to reduce the administrative burden on lecturers, while also ensuring institutions remained accountable. | A spokesman for the group said it was important to reduce the administrative burden on lecturers, while also ensuring institutions remained accountable. |
| The CUSN also has a website of fact sheets, online coaching, money advice and guidance on grants and loans. | The CUSN also has a website of fact sheets, online coaching, money advice and guidance on grants and loans. |
| The charity's chief executive, Patrick Nash, said it would help with issues of stress, workload and difficult relationships. | The charity's chief executive, Patrick Nash, said it would help with issues of stress, workload and difficult relationships. |
| It would work closely with the UCU which would provide employment advice, and representation where needed. | It would work closely with the UCU which would provide employment advice, and representation where needed. |
| Balance | |
| Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said academics might say they would consider leaving - as people in other walks of life might respond to a hypothetical poll - but the evidence was that most did not. | |
| "Moreover, recent reports indicate universities are attracting Nobel prize winners from overseas to come and work in the UK," he said. | |
| The government was committed to reducing bureaucracy. | |
| "It is important that institutions look closely at the balance of their employees' responsibilities and provide good staff support and welfare. | |
| "I welcome the development of personalised support services for lecturers, such as the new College and and University Support Network." |