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Theme | Example | Staff category |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Improved relationships with colleagues/support | “I have some very good confidants among work mates” | Nonacademic |
“Working with different, more compatible colleagues” | Nonacademic |
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Greater role clarity | “Becoming accustomed to the job and expectations” | Nonacademic |
“Better job/role clarification” | Nonacademic |
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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 |
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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 |
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Improved physical/work environment | “A more appropriate office and work room” | Nonacademic |
“New physical location offering excellent working environment” | Nonacademic |
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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 |
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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 |
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Reduced student numbers | “No Honours students to teach this year” | Academic |
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