Lived experiences of diverse university staff during Covid-19

An Examination of Workplace Wellbeing

Bibliographic Data

ID4096996
AuthorsLeslie Morrison Gutman (0000-0003-0567-7347, Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK, corresponding author), Fatima Younas (0000-0001-6680-8780, Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK), Rachel Perowne (0000-0002-3318-7321, Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK), Eanna O’hanrachtaigh (Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK)
Year2024
Volume49
Issue2
Pages251-268
Publication date2024-02-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in Higher Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0307-5079 • E-ISSN: 1470-174X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03075079.2023.2231015
OpenAlexW4384069566
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited34

Survey research has evidenced the work-related stresses reported by higher education staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, with indications that some groups may have been more vulnerable than others. However, for the most part, this research has not taken into account individuals’ intersecting identities and their circumstances, which are likely to influence the strategies which are best placed to support their wellbeing. This qualitative study contributes to this area of research through an examination of workplace wellbeing for diverse professional and academic staff, providing a more in-depth understanding of their lived experiences during the pandemic. Data were 36 open-ended questionnaires and 20 interviews from diverse academic and professional staff, in terms of their intersecting gender, sexual and ethnic identities; age; job role and grade scale; caregiving responsibilities and disability status, at a large UK public research university. Using inductive thematic analysis, the findings support key influences identified in the quantitative studies but also highlight new themes such as the salience of ethnic, religious and gender identities and anxiety and trauma from the pandemic. The findings further emphasise the importance of the organisational infrastructure to support staff welfare. Evidence-based, workplace strategies are offered to address the key findings. Overall, our study highlights the importance of providing targeted support and acknowledging the traumatic experiences of university staff during crisis situations and underscores how equity, diversity and inclusion are key considerations for wellbeing practices and policies in the workplace

Ethnic group · Higher education · Pandemic · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Employment and Welfare Studies · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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