Survey reveals staff stress at polytechnic

Almost 30% of Otago Polytechnic staff who responded to this year's work environment survey believed their workloads and stress levels were unacceptably high.

Chief executive Phil Ker said that while work would be done to try to improve that figure, the result "was not as bad as it seemed".

"While stress levels are relatively high and the overall morale element is low - although up on last year - I can only conclude that this is brought about mainly by external factors."

Those external factors were redundancy negotiations and department restructuring taking place because of declining government funding.

Mr Ker said at a polytechnic council meeting on Thursday that, overall, he was "extra pleased with the survey results, given we are an organisation in the midst of change".

The survey, which has been distributed annually for the past six years, asks staff to answer a wide range of questions including whether they enjoy their jobs, whether they feel valued, whether they feel their work is recognised and rewarded, whether they feel able to take breaks and holidays, whether they have confidence in their bosses and whether they want to continue working for the organisation.

This year's response rate of 78% was the highest ever, Mr Ker said.

Generally, staff were satisfied with their jobs and wellbeing was high.

Just over 90% of those who responded thought the polytechnic was a great place to work, 93% were proud to work there and 99.5% cared about the polytechnic's success.

Mr Ker said he was trying to encourage "a culture of prioritisation" so polytech staff learnt to manage their workloads and stress levels.

"There is a question about how much workload and stress is self-imposed. Are staff doing what they are supposed to be doing?"

He wanted staff to feel it was acceptable to discuss the deadline for tasks and negotiate an extension if necessary.

• The polytechnic was on track to record an operating surplus of about $500,000 this year, a report to the council said.

Figures for the nine months to the end of September showed revenue was $38.8 million, $27,000 higher than budgeted, while expenditure was $38.3 million, $40,000 less than anticipated.

The net operating surplus of $538,000 was well up on the expected surplus for the period of $70,000.

The polytechnic had 3394.5 equivalent full-time students at September 30, 44.4 more than expected, the report said.

allison.rudd@odt.co.nz