Workload and Stress in New Zealand Universities

This study examined the workloads of academic, general, support, library, and technical staff of New Zealand universities. It focused on current levels of workload, changes in workload levels and content, connections between workload and stress, and staff attitudes towards the effects of workload changes and educational reforms on the quality of their work. A total of 1,181 Association of University Staff members were surveyed through mailed questionnaires. The findings showed increasing workloads and stress for many university staff, and suggest that the overall quality of working life is declining for many university staff. Many of those surveyed felt that their work was often or always stressful; the majority stated that their work had become more stressful recently, and that they saw this trend continuing in the future. One of the major factors involved in the increase in stress levels was increase in workload. Females and recently appointed academics were identified as more likely to experience stress compared with academics in general. Two appendixes provide demographic information about the respondents, additional data tables, and copies of the academic and administrative support personnel questionnaires. (Contains 33 references.) (MDM)