Conclusion
The number of claims made against employers for work-related stress has been on the increase in recent years - indeed some insurers now require proof of preventative measures aimed at tackling work-related stress (Palmer 2000). There have also been some high-profile work-related stress cases taken against employers.
In July 1999, a Birmingham City Council worker was awarded £67,000 after suffering serious psychiatric illness due to the job done (Millar, 1999). In October of the same year a secondary school teacher was awarded a £47,000 payout because of the work-related stress she suffered (Carvel, 1999).
Despite the pressurised nature of the higher education sector, the legal responsibility for dealing with work-related stress lies with the employer. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) require employers to assess stress risks and, based on those risk assessments, take measures to prevent and control work-related stress.
From this survey we conclude that the preventative measures in place at Edge Hill are inadequate and that work-related stress continues to have a destructive impact upon the physical and mental health of academic staff. There has been insufficient action taken to identify how work-related stress has impacted upon academic staff, despite the long-term existence of an occupational stress policy at Edge Hill. It is not only the academic staff that suffers as a result of work-related stress.
The knock-on effect can be that the level of stress experienced by other members of staff escalates.
The high levels of work-related stress are added to by the structural and cultural changes affecting higher education institutions. Further, the nature of academic work involves high levels of emotion management. The combination of structural and cultural change, high levels of emotion management and the importance academics attach to the job they do increases the potential for high levels of work-related stress.
The stress levels at Edge Hill are made intolerable for a large number of people by a serious burden of overwork, unhelpful attitudes expressed by some line and senior managers, and an unapproachable Human Resource Department.
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