UoB UNISON launches workplace stress campaign

We are launching a Workplace Stress Campaign in response to alarming trends identified in our casework, with the first stage being a survey open to all professional services (non-academic) staff at the University.

This campaign aims to shine a light on the critical challenges many staff at the University are facing, including shrinking teams, rising workloads, and the detrimental effects on mental health and workplace capabilities. Workplace stress is a Health and Safety issue and the University has responsibilities in addressing it, as much as any other H&S issue.

With the possibility that hundreds of posts across the University could disappear due to a recently announced “Voluntary Leavers Scheme” (VLS), there are urgent questions about:

• The levels of workplace stress across the University

• Particular high-stress areas or ‘hotspots’

• Links between staff shortages and increased stress levels

The survey follows on the heels of a similar survey and ongoing campaign from our sister union Birmingham UCU, who announced in October that they had referred the University to the Health and Safety Executive over worrying levels of stress in their own survey and sickness statistics, along with the seeming unwllingness of the University to address it. 

Alongside general questions about stress and workload, UNISON’s survey also includes questions about the impact of AI and automation on professional services roles, to better understand its implications on workloads and job security.

How you can help

We need all professional services staff to complete our survey and share it widely to members and non-members across the university. This will help us build a representative and powerful case for change at the University.

We need to ensure transparency and meaningful action from the University to protect professional services staff from being overburdened. High levels of workplace stress is a strategic issue that needs to be addressed. 

Everyone can also help us by following us on this website and on social media, and sharing our posts about our campaign. 

Let’s hold the University accountable for the wellbeing of their staff – both for its own sake and to protect the essential services we all provide from being overburdened.