Two years on and teachers are still working hard to support others, but at the expense of their own wellbeing.
As teachers in Australia endure more changes from bureaucrats with a return to school, teachers are working harder than ever to keep their head above water. From staff shortages to student mental health issues, literacy measures and anxious parents, teachers are expected to rely on their own social and emotional resources to not only cope, but go above and beyond to meet everyone's needs except their own. Enough is enough!
In the book “The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It” by Jennifer Moss, she argues that employers need to stop blaming employees for not being resilient enough and, instead, change the policies and workplaces cultures that breed burnout in the first place. That is, we need to move beyond fruit bowls and yoga, and review work design as a means for reducing psychological harm.
“Burnout is a complex constellation of poor workplace practices and policies, antiquated institutional legacies, roles and personalities at higher risk, and system, societal issues that have been unchanged, plaguing us for too long,” writes Moss
Moss goes on to explain six main reasons people tend to burn out at work. All of which easily translate to poor working conditions for teachers:
1. Workload. Overwork is the main cause of burnout. Teachers will tell you there is simply too much to do and no time to do it. If all you had to do was teach, it would actually be quite fun, but all the paperwork leaves little time to do what you love, teach.
2. Perceived lack of control. Studies show that autonomy at work is important for well-being, and being micromanaged is particularly de-motivating to employees. Teachers have very little say over what they teach, how they teach and who they teach with ever-increasing compliance driven by a crowded curriculum.
3. Lack of reward or recognition. Paying someone what they are worth is an important way to reward them for their work. But so is communicating to people that their efforts matter. Teachers want validation but generally shy away from recognition. Some even suffer from 'martyrdom'. We need to shift this social norm by learning to receive praise when it happens. ... goodness knows it doesn't happen often.
4. Poor relationships. Having a sense of belonging is necessary for mental health and well-being. This is true at work as much as it is in life. Teaching is about relationships. Unfortunately, some relationships can lift you up or pull you down. Learning social and emotional competence would go a long way to improving communication skills.
5. Lack of fairness. When people are being treated unjustly, they are likely to burn out and need more sick time. In education, fairness can sometimes be blinded by compliance and mandates leaving teachers shaking their heads and asking why.
6. Values mismatch. Organizations that communicate values clearly and strive to fulfil their mission will more likely have satisfied employees. All schools proudly showcase their values on a wall somewhere, but do they really live these values in the staffroom and classroom? Positive workplace culture does not grow from a poster on the wall but from the everyday conversations between its people.
She concludes, “Though employees are ultimately responsible for their own happiness, it is employers' responsibility to provide the conditions that support, and not detract, from their happiness,” writes Moss.
In a nutshell, Moss is talking about organisations supporting the psychological health and safety of their workers. Just as we have strict policies and processes to prevent physical harm at work with laminated 'hot water' signs, and yellow lines in front of stairs, we must have better practices to prevent psychological harm which cause stress and burnout.
Safe Work Australia describes a systematic practical approach to managing work-related psychological health and safety .This Guide also includes references to the legal requirements under the model WHS Act and WHS Regulations. Unfortunately many educational institutions have not heard of these new international standards that came into effect in 2021.
People at Work is a free government website offering resources for organisations on how to psychological health and safety at work including reducing psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
To find out more about the book "Burnout", see it on Amazon HERE
Daniela Falecki
"The Keep-it-real Teacher, director of Teacher Wellbeing Pty Ltd. Specialising in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology to help teachers and school thrive.
www.teacher-wellbeing.com.au
