Health and well-being hub

The document titled "Se déconnecter du travail: Guide de bonnes pratiques", published by the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), explores the growing issue of hyperconnectivity and the erosion of boundaries between work and personal life, particularly in the context of telework and digital tools. It examines the causes and consequences of constant connectivity, including psychosocial risks and impacts on mental health, and offers both collective and individual strategies to promote work-life balance. The guide emphasizes the importance of organizational policies, union involvement, and legal frameworks, while also providing practical tips for managing digital tools and communication habits outside of work hours.

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Publisher: Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)
Country: Canada
Year of publication: 2023

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Right to disconnect and technology Unpaid work Workload
Available in: French
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives

This research paper analyzes data from 16,460 survey responses collected through the a survey. It explores the prevalence of stress and burnout among school leaders, revealing that nearly one-third frequently experienced burnout and one in eight frequently experienced stress. The study finds that female leaders are more prone to burnout, while male leaders report higher stress levels. Additionally, primary school leaders and those in early career stages are more likely to suffer from these issues than their secondary and more experienced counterparts.

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Publisher: Educational Management Administration & Leadership
Country: Australia
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Asia Pacific
Topics: Mental health Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

The report " Työhyvinvointi ohjelma" of the Finnish union OAJ outlines a strategy to improve the working conditions and overall well-being of professionals in the education sector. It emphasizes the importance of respectful treatment, sustainable work environments, and mental health support. The programme proposes legislative reforms, enhanced occupational safety, and better leadership practices to reduce work-related stress and prevent disability. It also promotes collaboration between employees, employers, and policymakers to ensure that educational professionals can thrive in their roles.

Download resource in Finnish

Publisher: Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö (OAJ)
Country: Finland
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Europe
Topics: Peer relationships Safety Working conditions
Available in: Finnish
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Downloadable file

This research article presents a conceptual framework for understanding and categorizing the social–emotional skills (SEMS) of teachers, which are increasingly recognized as vital for both student development and teacher well-being. While SEMS have been widely studied in students, this paper emphasizes the need to define and structure SEMS specifically for educators, given their pivotal role in shaping classroom environments and student outcomes. Drawing from personality psychology and educational research, the authors propose a taxonomy based on the Five-Factor Model to organize key teacher SEMS such as emotion regulation, self-efficacy, enthusiasm, and interpersonal skills.

Open resource in English

Publisher: Frontiers in Education
Year of publication: 2023

Topics: Social emotional skills
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Downloadable file

This report explores the trajectory of 379 academic professionals from experiencing mental health issues to decisions around workplace adjustments, leave, and the return-to-work process, with attention to differences by gender and academic status. Key insights include that 60% of respondents reported a mental health issue; among those, 54% modified their work and 23% took a formal leave, of whom 83% ultimately returned, though return rates varied significantly by employment type. Women and tenure-track academics were particularly affected by increased psychological distress, burnout, and presenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Publisher: Healthy Professional Worker Partnership
Country: Canada
Year of publication: 2023

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Researchers
Resource type: Downloadable file

The Joint Union Heatwave Protocol from the NEU provides practical guidance for schools and colleges to prepare for and respond to extreme heat events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. It outlines short-term measures such as adjusting dress codes, modifying lunch menus, relocating classes, and ensuring access to water and ventilation. It also recommends long-term planning, including retrofitting buildings, improving ventilation, and conducting risk assessments to protect staff and students. The protocol encourages collaboration between employers and union representatives to ensure health, safety, and minimal disruption to learning during heatwaves

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Publisher: National Education Union (NEU)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Europe
Topics: Climate change Physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Online ressource

The NEU's Model Policy on Violence and Assaults Against Staff provides a structured framework for schools to prevent and respond to workplace violence. It emphasizes the importance of creating a safe working environment by setting clear expectations and procedures for handling incidents involving physical or verbal abuse. The accompanying Model Reporting Form is designed to document all instances of violence, threats, or abuse directed at school staff, including supply teachers and contractors, ensuring that such incidents are properly recorded and addressed

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Publisher: National Education Union (NEU)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Europe
Topics: Violence and harassment
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

This guide serves as a practical tool for union delegates involved in occupational health and safety committees. It outlines the legal framework, roles, and responsibilities of delegates, and emphasizes the importance of active union participation in bipartite health and safety committees within educational institutions. The guide also includes relevant national decrees, strategies for improving workplace conditions, and resources to support the defense and promotion of workers' health rights.

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Publisher: Federación Nacional de Profesores de Enseñanza Secundaria (FENAPES) Comisión de Salud Laboral Área de Formación Sindical CEIFF
Country: Uruguay
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Latin America
Topics: Physical health
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

The 2023 UNESCO IICBA study assesses the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on teachers, teacher educators, and learners across selected sub-Saharan African countries. It highlights the growing recognition of mental health and well-being in education, emphasizing the interconnectedness between education, health, and psychosocial support. The study identifies key challenges faced by educators, ranks the severity of COVID-19’s negative effects, and explores innovative strategies adopted by governments. It also provides recommendations for building resilience, improving infection control, and enhancing psychosocial support systems, aiming to inform policy and advocacy efforts across Africa.

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Publisher: UNESCO IICBA
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Africa
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

This webinar explores systemic approaches and promising practices that strengthen mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions for teachers in Africa, with the goal of improving learning outcomes. It presents key issues that teachers currently face which may impact their mental health and wellbeing, showcases evidence-based MHPSS interventions for educators, and identifies strategies for creating linkages with various stakeholders to support teachers. By highlighting the critical connection between teacher wellbeing and educational quality, the webinar promotes collaborative and informed responses across the education and mental health sectors.

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Publisher: UNESCO IICBA
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Africa
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Video

The overall goal of the webinar is to create an opportunity for education authorities, partners in education, school leaders, teachers, and teacher educators to explore and deliberate on the various strategies that can strengthen education sector interventions for teachers in crisis and emergency contexts through the sharing of best practices that have been implemented by the various partners in Africa. More specifically, the webinar will provide a platform to: (i) Deliberate on the persistent challenges and promising practices for teachers in crisis contexts and refugee settlements in the Horn of Africa; (ii) Share how best countries in Africa can improve and manage the well-being of Teachers in crisis and refugee settlements in Africa; (iii) Discuss strategies for promoting teachers' well-being, management, and school leadership in crisis settings; and (iv) Share innovations, resources, and best practices that have worked around teachers' management, motivations, and data systems and their linkages with the national overall programming of teachers.

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Publisher: UNESCO IICBA
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Africa
Topics: Leadership Resources and conditions Safety
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers School leaders
Resource type: Video

This document outlines a study conducted by UNESCO IICBA on the state of teacher professionalism in West Africa, focusing on professional standards, teacher education, and working conditions. It emphasizes the urgent need for countries to adopt and implement professional standards and competencies for teachers and school leaders. It highlights how inadequate professional support, poor working conditions, and lack of career development opportunities negatively impact teacher motivation, job satisfaction, and retention. Detailed case studies for Sierra Leone and The Gambia illustrate country-specific progress and challenges. The study highlights that while some countries like Sierra Leone and Nigeria have aligned with international frameworks, most are still in early stages, lacking formal regulations, national standards, and professional teaching councils. Teacher education remains weak, with many teachers insufficiently qualified, and continuous professional development is underutilized.

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Publisher: UNESCO IICBA
Country: Gambia Sierra Leone
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Africa
Topics: Salaries and remuneration Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

This guide describes the requirements set out in the fundamental OSH Conventions, the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health, 2006 (No. 187), recognizing the complementarity of these two instruments to ensure good OSH governance at national level and sound OSH management at workplace level. To provide further guidance about the implementation of Conventions Nos 155 and 187, the publication also includes key provisions from the accompanying Recommendations 164 and 197.

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Publisher: International Labour Organization (ILO)
Year of publication: 2023

Topics: Physical health Safety Working conditions
Available in: English Spanish, Castilian French
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Downloadable file

" Fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis entre professores da educação básica": The article investigates the prevalence of risk and protective factors for noncommunicable chronic diseases among primary education teachers in Montes Claros, Brazil. Conducted in 2016, this cross-sectional study found that smoking, alcohol abuse, overweight, and mental health issues were common risk factors, while physical activity and a balanced diet were notable protective factors. The study also highlighted significant differences in these factors based on gender, age, and job satisfaction, emphasizing the need for targeted health interventions to improve teachers' well-being and reduce the prevalence of NCDs in this population.

Open resource in Portuguese

Publisher: Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional
Country: Brazil
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Latin America
Topics: Leadership Physical health
Available in: Portuguese
Categories of staff: Teachers
Level of education: Primary education
Resource type: Web page

"Grotere klassen en meer zorgleerlingen: Invloeden van klassenkenmerken op werkdruk, tevredenheid en verzuim": The report investigates the impact of larger class sizes and the presence of more students requiring special care on teachers' workload, satisfaction, and absenteeism in primary and secondary education in the Netherlands. Based on a survey of over 7,000 teachers, the findings reveal that larger classes and a higher proportion of students with specific are needs correlate with increased work pressure, lower job satisfaction, and higher absenteeism rates. Teachers expect that reducing class size or providing more support for diverse needs could help alleviate the pressure and workload.

Download resource in Dutch

Publisher: Algemene Onderwijsbond (AOb)
Country: Netherlands
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Europe
Topics: Working conditions Workload
Available in: Dutch
Categories of staff: Teachers
Level of education: Primary education Secondary education
Resource type: Downloadable file

Ei-iE

Health and well-being hub Education International’s resource center

Showing 29 Resources Filtered by:

Disconnecting from work: Best practices guide

The mental health of leaders in Australian government schools: Stress and burnout over a decade (2011–2020)

Occupational well-being programme

Social–emotional skills of teachers: Mapping the content space and defining taxonomy requirements

Healthy professional worker partnership: Academia case study survey findings

Joint union heatwave protocol

Violence and assaults against staff in schools model policy

Guide for the union representative on occupational health and safety committees

Assessment of the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on teachers, teacher educators and learners and psychosocial support needs in selected Sub-Saharan African countries

Mental health: A great investment for teachers in Africa?

Teachers in crisis and emergency contexts: Challenges and promising practices in Africa

West Africa – Investing in Teachers and School Leaders: Professional Standards, Working Conditions, and Teacher Education

The fundamental conventions on occupational safety and health

Risk and protective factors for non-communicable chronic diseases among primary education teachers

Larger classes and more students with special needs: Effects of class characteristics on workload, job satisfaction, and absenteeism