Juggling life at the Chalk faceWork-Life Balance and Stress in Teaching Dr Cheryl TraversThe Business SchoolLoughborough University

Outline of the SessionImportance of addressing the issue of work-life balance.The current climate re stress and issues of work-life imbalanceIssues for the teaching profession and especially headteachers in their roleIssues re the individual and personality aspects that contribute to a problem with work-life balanceSuggestions for gaining balance back in our lives.

Addressing the Issue of Work-Life BalanceSetting the Scene

Why the interest?

Developments at Work

Outside of Work

Individuals and their lives

IT advances

Information load

Speed of response

Quality of customer service

Constant availability

Pace of change

UK longest hours

Increased intensity of work

Decrease in quality of home/community life

Affluence

Single parent families

Lack of local resources and facilities

Number of working women

Less quality family time

Decrease time with dependents

Generation X

Psychological contract

Turbulence in orgs

Lower work centrality

Winner, winner, winner!Business case for Work Life BalanceRecruitment tool to attract the best talentRetention of valued employeesOffering better customer serviceReturn on investmentTruer reflection of customer diversityReduction in absenteeism, sickness and stressImproved productivity and performanceIncreased morale, commitment and loyaltyEmployee flexibility; supporting innovation, creativity and ability to deal with change

Work-Life Balance AreasWorking hours, Time off (personalised annual leave, career breaks unpaid leave, study leave, pre-retirement leave, careers leave, Childcare provision, sports or social facilities, Learning provision,Parental leave, maternity leave, adoption leave, time off for dependants, compassionate leave

Mortgage scheme, Teleworking, travel pass.Health and wellbeing: sick leave scheme; occupational health, health insuranceStaff developmentPolicies - e.g. equal opsSchemes: pension, flexible working arrangementsContent of jobs (e.g. teachers)

What do we mean by Balance?Objective - hours worked (though open to subjective value)Subjective - stakeholder analysisIssues of boundary and borders between home and workIssues of degree of control (Physical and psychological)

Defining `Work and `LifeWork

Paid employmentUnpaid hoursTravelHome workingLife (or non-work)Family lifeFree timeLeisure timeCommitted time(Definition of family)

Defining `Work-Life BalanceAn equal distribution of weight or amount.Stability of body or mind.To off-set or compare; to equal or neutralise, to bring or come into equilibrium.Sufficient time to meet commitments at both home and work.A perceived balance between work and the rest of life.Satisfaction and good functioning at work and at home with a minimum of role conflict.

Reasons for working long hoursThe workplace cultureThe feelgood factor (sense of importance; brownie points)To avoid other areas of your lifeAbsolutely love the work - hobby-jobby!!Need overtime for financial reasonsNot working efficiently or effectivelyReal work versus social work

The Current ClimateWork-Life Balance and Stress

Models of Work-Life BalanceSegmentation - in 2 distinct domainsSpillover - can influence in a positive or negative wayCompensation - make up in one what is lacking in anotherInstrumental - one facilitates success in anotherConflict - with high demands in all, leading to difficult choices

Nature, cause and consequences:Dependent on Subjective and Objective Balance

Contextual

Individual

Outcomes

Demands of work

Culture of work

Demands of home

Culture of home

Work orientation

Personality

Energy

Control and coping

Gender

Age, life and career stage

Work or life Satisfaction

Mental and physical health/wellbeing

Stress/illness

Behaviour/Performance at home or work

Impact on others at home and work

Who are the Vulnerable ones?Those working longer hoursHigh income managerial workersWomenThose with dependent childrenMultiple job holdersVery little slack in the working day.Intensification of workBut BUFFERS include Friendly climate, HR practices in place, direct participation and autonomy

Why stress?Changes in technologyChanges in lifestyleChanging nature of jobsPsychological contract - presenteeismComplex working livesIncreased use of palliativesHealth awareness - prevention v cureOrganisational drive - litigationIndividual responsibility - down shifting?

Apparently, Jones, you are the only member of your department not suffering from a stress-related illness. Why not?

How do we react to Stress?Psychological - e.g. lowered self esteem, inability to concentrate, feeling bored most of the timePhysiological - e.g. heart rate increases, eczema, frequent headachesBehavioural - e.g. taking time off work, absenteeism, turnover, aggression

PERFORMANCEGOODPOORFrustratedBoredUnder involvedStimulatedAlertDecisiveCreativeEffective Optimum Reduced Efficiency Reduced creativity Less AlertOverloadIndecisiveIrritableAnxiousFatiguedBurn-outLOWDEMANDSHIGH

General adaptation syndrome1234AlarmResistanceCollapseNormal resistance levelto a stressorKey:1 Shock 2 Countershock 3 Resistance 4 Collapse

The happy cooked frog1 Co100 C o

Work-Life Balance and TeachingImplications for Teachers and Heads

Stress in TeachersStressorsAmbiguity of roleLack of status and promotionAppraisalCoverManagement and structure of the schoolIndividual aspectsTime conscious behaviourLow ambitious/ competitive behaviourLow prioritisation copingTenureOlderLow intrinsic job satisfactionPoor mental ill health

Responses to Stress in TeachersMental ill healthJob dissatisfactionAlcohol consumptionIntention to leave

Tackling Workload in TeachingOverall hours reducedChanges to contracts - routine tasks, cover, time during school day, leadership responsibilitiesCut in bureaucracyMore support staffNew managersMore money for changeAll signatories responsible for monitoring

Unnecessary task for teachersCollecting moneyChasing absencesBulk PhotocopyingCopy typingProducing Standard lettersProducing Class listsRecord keeping and filingClassroom display Analysing attendance figuresProcessing exam resultsCollating pupil reportsCoordinating/submitting bidsSeeking/giving personal advice

Administering work experienceAdministering examinationsInvigilating of examinationsAdministering teacher coverICT trouble shooting and Minor repairsCommissioning new ICT equipmentOrdering supplies/equipmentStocktakingCataloguing etcMinuting meetings Managing pupil data Inputting pupil data

Work-Life Balance and StressThe Role of the Individual and Personality aspects

What makes us vulnerable to stress and work-life imbalance?Experience and LifestageType A behaviourExternal locus of controlLow hardiness PessimismWorkaholic or overworker?Stress prone lifestylePhysical condition Poor self awarenessPersonality type (e.g. MBTI)Poor coping strategies

THE JOHARI WINDOWOpen Self

Your self knowledge which you share freely with othersBlind Self

Others knowledge of you which you do not know about.Hidden Self

Your self knowledge that you hide from others.Unknown Self

That part of you that nobody knows - not even you

Type A Behaviour PatternHurry sickness

Youre a Type A just like your father

Locus of ControlVictim or Victor

Relationship between performance, competence and challengeLevel of challengeFIGHTToo much challengeToo little competenceOut of controlOvercommittedPanicSTIMULATEDOptimum challengeOptimum competenceCalmFocusedEnergisedIn ControlFLIGHTToo little challengeOver-competentOvercontrolledLethargicLevel of competence

Yoo-hoo! Oh, yoo-hoo!...I think Im getting ablister

HardinessThe three Cs

You know,were justnot reachingthat guy

OptimismIs the glass half empty or half full?

Other personality variablesSelf-esteem, neuroticism, extrovert/introvert, tolerance for ambiguity, flexibility versus rigidity, need for power etc

DemographicsGender, education, ethnicity, life-stage, diet, social support, coping strategies

Suggestions for Gaining Work-Life BalanceFrom Struggling to Juggling

Managing Stress AWARENESS RESPONSIBILITYACTION FEEDBACK

How can we get stressed?Dont set any goals or make plansAvoid the temptation to manage timeNever delegate anythingAdopt the busyness syndromeKeep all of your problems to yourselfRemain inflexible, narrow-minded and avoid changeMake every effort not to have funKeep work and play imbalancedHabitually complain and store up resentment

Keller is a nice chap, but totally lacking in stress management skills

RelaxationLetting goPhysical and mental MassageDietPhysical activityWork aggressionMeditationVisualisationTaking our worries for a walkPlay/humour/having fun

The first thing youve got to learn is to relax

Taking time and spaceLife-planningGive yourselves a breakBrinkmanship - STOP exerciseTime managementLive in the presentAvoid technology trapsIdentify protection zonesManage Type A behaviour and other stylesPursue pleasure and LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE

Towards Better Work-Life BalanceUnderstand what WLB means in your life - AwarenessExplore your personality, role and values AwarenessAccept responsibility for your own work and life results ResponsibilityConsider achievement and enjoyment. Avoid `as soon as ActionStay in focus ActionTry to stay in balance everyday ActionGet some work life goals ActionCarefully/consistently reflect and monitor progress FeedbackRemember - Whos life is it anyway??

Achievement and EnjoymentJust achieve something today and enjoy something today. And if you do both of those things today, youre going to have a pretty good day. And if you do both of those things everyday, for the rest of your lifeyoure going to have a pretty good life.Life will deliver the value and balance we desire if we achieve and enjoy a meaningful DAILY achievement and enjoyment in each of your four life quadrants: work, family, friends and self.

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