The survey on the amount of stress in UK universities and colleges being more prevalent than five years ago (Personneltoday.com, 5 November) confirms the results of our own surveys of stress, workload and bullying in both further and higher education.
It is certainly the case that many institutions in both sectors are not sufficiently proactive in treating stress as a health and safety hazard that should be audited and controlled. High stress levels are often indicative of wider concerns about inappropriate management culture.
We are commencing a long-term campaign to get our local representatives, especially health and safety representatives, to insist that the best possible health and safety practice is implemented so that institutions abide by their duty of care to staff.
Roger Kline
Head of equality and employment rights,
University and College Union
