If things go wrong….. Looking after yourself Healthy Working Lives (NHS) High challenge, low support environment.

If things go wrong….

Looking after yourself

Healthy Working Lives (NHS)http://www.abdn.ac.uk/healthyworkinglives/

“High challenge, low support” environment

Stresshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr9DI3YLOTA

You

Your choices

Your situation

YouPsychology / neurology

Society / culture / meaning

Physical, mental, and social capacities

Self-conception

Your situationWork –•Tasks•Resources•Colleagues/managers

Home and finances

Family and relationships

Your choicesDo you know what your objectives are?

Do you have relevant choices?

Can you predict the outcomes of your choices?

Shame

• Self-blame

• Denial

• Suppression of evidence

• Reluctance to seek help

• Reduced capacity to cope …

• Quality of supervision and direction• Resources

─ Workspace─ Facilities─ Finance

• Workload─ Classes─ Research─ Teaching

• Behaviour of colleagues and collaborators• ‘External’ circumstances – home, health,

finance

Workplace stressors (1)

Is the job/programme what I thought it would be?

Is academic life what I thought it would be?

Am I valued and treated with respect?

Workplace stressors (2)

University has a ‘duty of care’ towards staff and students

Health and Safety Executive

The Rules

Talk to someoneA friend or trusted colleagueA CounsellorA Trade Union Representative

Document/record/evidence your circumstances

Take practical and realistic action – don’t just ‘tough it out’

What to do

Investors in Peoplehttp://www.abdn.ac.uk/hr/training/investors/

Trade Unions and HR

Staff Satisfaction Survey

PhD supervision

Student Association

Institutional Issues

Recoursehttp://recourse.org.uk/

UCU (Local Branch)http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ucu/

Online Resources

The union for education professionals