Research Article

Interventions: Employees’ Perceptions of What Reduces Stress

Table 2

Examples of the different themes as they appear in the data.

ThemeExampleStaff category

Changed job or work role“Duties have changed. Now not as pressured”Nonacademic
“Former senior lecturer in my area was promoted to HoS and I have moved into the courses formerly taught by her and have been able to drop many other ‘bits and pieces’ of teaching i.e., rationalisation of courses taught”Academic

New head of department/supervisor/management“New head of school has a caring and listening approach and seems to ACT ON this—predecessors didn’t”Academic
“There was a change in our Head of School… significantly reduced the stress due to the change in leadership… resulted in a fairer system and better care for the human resource”Academic
“Previous manager was a workplace bully. The university supported me in my move from this situation”Nonacademic

Specific intervention strategies“Increased stress management workshops, also stress management integrated in other workshops i.e. leadership courses”Nonacademic
“Improved induction, staff support and development”Academic

Increased personal resources—positive coping“Learnt not to take it personally when I miss out on a competitive research grant”Academic
“Mainly due to changes in my own attitude—I believe individuals create a lot of their own stress—I was great at that, I’m now more realistic about what I can do—I also have a good working relationship with my Manager”Nonacademic

Increased personal resources—protective coping“I have adopted a personal approach of ‘stuff it’ to try to gain more control and more self-respect for my efforts”Academic
“I don’t care so much about the University. I have stopped worrying about the University and I’ve stopped identifying with it. So, I’m less stressed”Academic

Increased staff or resources/systems“Number and level of staffing improved, so that less pressure on me, and can actually undertake my managerial roles rather than operational functions”Nonacademic
“Problem areas have been identified and more staff have been employed to get the job done correctly and efficiently”Nonacademic

Improved relationships with colleagues/support“I have some very good confidants among work mates”Nonacademic
“Working with different, more compatible colleagues”Nonacademic

Greater role clarity“Becoming accustomed to the job and expectations”Nonacademic
“Better job/role clarification”Nonacademic

Increased success/recognition/promotion“My success in gaining funding and publishing”Academic
“Recognition of my role and contribution to the university and the school”Academic

Reduced working hours/changed employment status“Changed employment status from full-time to part-time”Academic
“Dropping from a Level 9 contract salary to a Level 7 fixed term contract. This has reduced my stress and work hours considerably and given me more time back into my non-work life”Nonacademic

Improved physical/work environment“A more appropriate office and work room”Nonacademic
“New physical location offering excellent working environment”Nonacademic

Increased job security“My stress levels decrease with a longer contract. My current contract is for 12 months but in the past, they have often been for only three months”Nonacademic
“Gaining full-time, continuing work”Nonacademic

Improved communication processes“More direct communication with all areas of the university”Nonacademic
“Greater communication by university administration as a result of staff discontent regarding budget decisions and the university’s direction for the future”Academic

Reduced student numbers“No Honours students to teach this year”Academic