Ei-iE

Health and well-being hub

Workload

Workload is a critical factor that affects the well-being of all education workers, particularly when it becomes excessive or misaligned with professional support structures. Education workers often face substantial administrative demands, inconsistent and insufficient professional development opportunities, and heightened accountability for student performance. In addition, the expansion of their roles and the need to continuously adapt to evolving educational policies and practices contribute to increased pressure.

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Topics: Workload
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Wellbeing: Leading and managing a well workplace

Guides

The document provides comprehensive guidance for educational leaders on fostering a healthy workplace. It emphasizes the importance of promoting staff wellbeing through effective leadership, stress management, and creating a supportive work environment. The document covers various topics, including work-life balance, managing stress, and the role of leaders in shaping a positive workplace culture. It aims to equip leaders with the tools and strategies needed to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of their staff, ultimately contributing to a more effective and sustainable educational environment.

Download resource in English
Publisher
National Education Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2021
Region
Europe
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Leadership Mental health Physical health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Teacher wellbeing index - 2021

Research

This article is part of a compilation of case studies that detail promising practices in teacher well‑being, teacher management, and school leadership. The Teacher Wellbeing Index – 2021 highlights the mounting pressures faced by the UK education workforce during the COVID‑19 pandemic: a majority of staff reported work-related psychological symptoms, with stress levels notably rising compared to previous years, particularly among senior leaders. Many continued working even when unwell, while anxiety, exhaustion, and feelings of burnout became widespread.

Download resource in English
Publisher
Education Support
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2021
Region
Europe
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Leadership Mental health Peer relationships Physical health Respect Violence and harassment Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Level of education
Early childhood education Primary education Secondary education
Resource type
Downloadable file

Teachers’ well-being: A framework for data collection and analysis

Research

The OECD framework for data collection and analysis of teachers' well-being proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework to analyse teachers’ occupational well-being and its linkages with quality teaching. It identifies four key components of well-being: physical and mental, cognitive, subjective, and social. The framework explores how working conditions at both system and school levels can influence these aspects, and it outlines expected outcomes, such as reduced stress and lower turnover intentions for teachers, and improved classroom processes and student well-being.

Open resource in English
Publisher
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Year of publication
2020
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Job satisfaction Mental health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Downloadable file

Teacher wellbeing index - 2020

Research

The Teacher Wellbeing Index 2020 reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the mental health of UK education staff, leading to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. The report highlights the challenges of transitioning to online teaching, managing pupil behavior, and dealing with personal safety concerns. Despite some improvements in workplace culture and organizational support, the overall wellbeing of education staff remains a critical issue, requiring urgent action to enhance working conditions and support systems to address these pandemic-related challenges effectively.

Download resource in English
Publisher
Education Support
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2020
Region
Europe
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Leadership Mental health Peer relationships Physical health Respect Violence and harassment Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Level of education
Early childhood education Primary education Secondary education
Resource type
Downloadable file

Mental health charter

Toolkits

The charter outlines key principles and strategies to promote mental wellbeing among school and college staff. It emphasizes the importance of creating a safe workplace, providing support from colleagues and managers, ensuring fair and equal treatment, establishing clear procedures and roles, allowing personal and social time, and conducting stress risk assessments. The charter aims to integrate mental health considerations into the culture, organization, and management of educational institutions.

Open resource in English
Publisher
National Education Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2019
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Respect Violence and harassment Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Researchers
Resource type
Downloadable file

Causes and signs of stress at work

Guides

The guide on the causes and signs of stress at work provides comprehensive guidance on identifying and managing work-related stress. It outlines six main areas that can lead to stress if not properly managed: demands, control, support, relationships, role, and change. It highlights specific pressures faced by teachers, such as excessive workload, poor pupil behavior, and lack of career progression. Also, it describes the signs of stress in colleagues and emphasizes the importance of conducting stress risk assessments and treating work-related stress as a collective issue.

Open resource in English
Publisher
NASUWT - The Teachers' Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2019
Region
Europe
Topics
Peer relationships Violence and harassment Working conditions Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

Teacher wellbeing index - 2019

Research

This article is part of a compilation of case studies that detail promising practices in teacher well‑being, teacher management, and school leadership. The Teacher Wellbeing Index – 2019 paints a concerning portrait of the emotional toll faced by the UK education workforce. Highlighted are elevated stress levels, particularly among senior leaders, widespread symptoms like insomnia, irritability, and mental health concerns, and alarming patterns of presenteeism. Excessive workload, poor work–life balance, and student behavioral challenges emerge as key contributors. Yet, resilience remains evident among many professionals, while gaps persist in access to and confidence in seeking support.

Download resource in English
Publisher
Education Support
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2019
Region
Europe
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Leadership Mental health Peer relationships Physical health Respect Violence and harassment Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Level of education
Early childhood education Primary education Secondary education
Resource type
Downloadable file

Teacher and education support personnel’s mental health - Resolution from the 8th World Congress

Policy briefs and Policies

Resolution on wellbeing for quality education, adopted in 2019 by the 8th EI World Congress. The resolution highlights the critical role of quality education in the wellbeing of children and young people, emphasizing the need for investment in mental health support for students and education personnel.

Open resource in English Open resource in Spanish Open resource in French
Publisher
Education International (EI)
Year of publication
2019
Topics
Mental health Working conditions Workload
Available in
English French Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel
Specific communities
Ethnic minorities Indigenous Peoples LGBTIQA+ Women
Resource type
Web page

Working conditions and teacher health

Research

This publication collects a series of articles that examine the critical relationship between teachers' working conditions and their physical and mental health. It highlights the growing stress and pressure faced by educators due to neoliberal education policies, increased workloads, and precarious employment. Through diverse contributions from Latin American educators and researchers, the publication underscores how systemic issues, such as privatization and market-driven reforms, have led to deteriorating health outcomes among teachers.

Open resource in Spanish
Publisher
Red SEPA (Social para la Educación Pública en América)
Country
Mexico Brazil Argentina
Year of publication
2018
Region
Latin America
Topics
Mental health Physical health Working conditions Workload
Available in
Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Talking toolkit preventing work-related stress in schools

Toolkits

This toolkit provides practical guidance for school leaders to have simple and practical conversations with school employees about work-related stress. It includes models for illustration purposes, offering strategies for creating a supportive work environment, conducting risk assessments, and implementing effective stress management practices.

Download resource in English
Publisher
NASUWT - The Teachers' Union Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2018
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Physical health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Downloadable file

Report of the survey panorama focus sante - 2018

Research

The report provides an overview of the health and well-being of education personnel in 15 French-speaking countries. Based on surveys and interviews conducted in 2018, the report highlights key issues such as access to healthcare, working conditions, and the role of trade unions in promoting health awareness. The findings aim to inform and inspire actions to improve the well-being of education professionals globally.

Download resource in French
Publisher
Syndical Francophone de l’Éducation et de la Formation (CSFEF) Education and Solidarity Network (ESN)
Country
Congo Chad Cape Verde Canada Burkina Faso Benin Belgium France Guinea Tunisia Switzerland Senegal Romania Mauritius Lebanon
Year of publication
2018
Topics
Physical health Working conditions Workload
Available in
French
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Teacher wellbeing index - 2018

Research

This article is part of a compilation of case studies that detail promising practices in teacher well‑being, teacher management, and school leadership. The Teacher Wellbeing Index – 2018 reveals a widespread mental health crisis in the UK education sector, with high stress and poor work-life balance affecting both teachers and senior leaders. The report highlights concerning levels of presenteeism, emotional strain, and reluctance to seek help, all driven by heavy workloads, lack of support, and rising behavioral challenges. It calls for systemic cultural change to protect and prioritize staff wellbeing.

Download resource in English
Publisher
Education Support
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2018
Region
Europe
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Leadership Mental health Peer relationships Physical health Respect Violence and harassment Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Level of education
Early childhood education Primary education Secondary education
Resource type
Downloadable file

Health survey - 2017

Research

This article is part of a compilation of case studies that detail promising practices in teacher well‑being, teacher management, and school leadership. The Education Staff Health Survey – 2017, the inaugural report in what would become an annual series, presents a comprehensive picture of the mental health and well‑being of education professionals across the UK. Based on responses from 1,250 staff covering schools, further education, and higher education, it finds that three‑quarters encounter work‑related physical, psychological, or behavioral symptoms, with many reporting persistent stress, disrupted work–life balance, and even presenteeism. The survey reveals that half have considered leaving the sector due to health pressures, while many suffer from insomnia, irritability, and poor performance as a result of their workload.

Download resource in English
Publisher
Education Support
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2017
Region
Europe
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Leadership Mental health Peer relationships Physical health Respect Violence and harassment Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Level of education
Early childhood education Primary education Secondary education
Resource type
Downloadable file

Time Inside and Outside the Workplace

Research

The document analyzes the real working conditions of private school teachers in Argentina. It highlights how educators’ actual work hours, both inside and outside the classroom, far exceed the legally recognized hours, with many tasks like planning, grading, and material preparation going unpaid and unacknowledged. It also examines the impact of commuting time and the concept of “double presence,” especially for women, who disproportionately bear the burden of combining professional duties with domestic responsibilities.

Open resource in Spanish
Publisher
Sindicato Argentino de Docentes Privados (SADOP)
Country
Argentina
Year of publication
2012
Region
Latin America
Topics
Unpaid work Workload
Available in
Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file