Managing workload

[Mumteedum]

Anyone else feel like they're drowning already and the new academic year has barely begun?

I'm on a 0.8 and a course leader for undergraduate programme. I'm in a team of 2 with the other staff member being new and I've not had chance to look at my teaching prep for next week yet.

On top of that the deadline for my annual course report is looming and I haven't had chance to look at that.

And.. We have two open days this month's which I have to cover. There's no chance I can do the 4 days a week I'm supposed to and get my work done. I really wanted to look after myself this year but I'm already coming down with something and feeling run down.

Advice for wise people or fellow commiserees welcome!

[damekindness]

I feel your pain...and would say I have no idea why academics do a 0.8 contract (assuming that's your choice?) because inevitably they end up doing a full time job for 80% of the pay.

[geekaMaxima]

I hear you OP! I got stuck with new things this year (even though it wasn't supposed to happen) and on top of my regular workload it's been the straw that broke the camel's back....

I'm considering a move to 0.8 but only because it actually does work in my department. We have a functional workload model (not perfect by a long shot, but functional) that my HoD supports so there is a serious effort made to ensure people in 0.8 really do have 20% less on everything (research, teaching, admin) than full-timers. Quite a few people are on reduced FTE as a result. Technically, I'm not overloaded any more than anyone else full-time, but it's still getting to me this year.

Do you have a workload model that could help you check if you're being overloaded? Or would your HoD consider taking something off you if you said your workload was causing stress (it's a magic word around here)?

[Mumteedum]

I'm 0.8 simply so that they can't insist I work evenings and give me more modules than I have already. Admin wise though it just keeps piling on.

The workload model is based just on modules and it doesn't really work. I'm now on a teaching only contract which management have interpreted to mean we teach more than those on research contracts. In reality, lots of people on research contracts aren't dou g any research because they're overloaded with teaching already and they do less than us.

My manager puts in crazy hours herself and I'm not sure if I trust her to tell her I'm feeling stressed.

[geekaMaxima]

Oh that's really shit, OP

and sympathy, but I wish I knew of a solution. And I really wish academic departments all treated their staff fairly.

[bakedbeanzontoast]

@damekindness yes that happened to me, went to point eight and workload remained the same.

Op one thing you need to do is set strict boundaries with students in terms of what you can offer in terms of support with the modules as otherwise you will never get anything done. I know this is easier said then done in the era of the NSS or national snowflake survey as I call it.

[Pota2]

Yeah, feeling it too. You have my sympathies. Have not prepared for my lectures next week yet- that’s my weekend....
This year I will try to do a decent job but not go above and beyond IYSWIM. When I bust my gut with teaching, I get no recognition so what is the point?

[geekaMaxima]

the NSS or national snowflake survey as I call it.

[Benes]

Op one thing you need to do is set strict boundaries with students in terms of what you can offer in terms of support with the modules as otherwise you will never get anything done.

This 100%. I went above and beyond last year and still got 2 formal complaints so i'm sticking to the guidelines and nothing more this year.

[Mumteedum]

Thanks for replies and sorry for those of you feeling the same. I got Monday's lecture prepped today and ignored the course report I have to do. I figure they'll just have to wait for it. If I can't get it done it's just a fact. Its not like I'm doing nothing!

Plus I've spent this evening in bed feeling ill with some kind of freshers flu! The joys!

[purplepandas]

I feel your pain. Clocked a 12 HR day today, it's ridiculous. I am ft and have considered 0.8 too but have resisted for the reasons mentioned above. Good enough is my mantra.

I am most PGT so still marking dissertations with a new cohort starting on Mon with a new programme.

Academia is just getting silly in terms of demands on us all round.

[bakedbeanzontoast]

@geekaMaxima 

@Benes ditto. Oddly enough the more you go out of your way it seems the more entitled they feel they are to their 'right' to a first.

[bakedbeanzontoast]

@geekaMaxima didn't post previously argh!

[Hippobag]

Definitely strict boundaries with students. Try to filter all queries into face to face queries in office hours and put office hours at times to put them off a bit (8-9am). Make it clear you won't answer emails on certain days and will not answer queries if the answer is already in the course outline

[Benes]

So true baked

[QueenRefusenik]

I find setting aside dedicated time for emails at a time that suits me helps manage my time, say half an hour twice a day. In the latest Outlook you can set it to not download new emails as default so you can still look through old ones if you need to access something. I deliberately don't have work email on my phone (can still log in via the browser if I really need to but it helps! Don't answer student emails out of hours unless it's an emergency - if it suits you to email later in the evening set the emails to send with a delay so students don't realise you check email after hours!

[GCAcademic]

We all have to go in to work every other Saturday now. All our open days and offer-holder days have been scheduled for Saturdays. So that’s four this term, and five next term. My mother asked if I get overtime or time off in lieu. How I laughed . . .

[Pota2]

GCAcademic that’s terrible. What a joke. And four open days a term just looks so incredibly desperate on the part of the uni.

[GCAcademic]

It’s not the uni, most of them are departmental offer holder days. But, yes, it is a joke. I already feel completely run down, and term hasn’t even started yet. I feel like just jacking it in for a 9-5 job, but have a bloody whopping mortgage to pay and can’t afford to. Urgh.

[QueenRefusenik]

Does everyone have to be there for every open day? We have a rota system.so everyone only had to do one or two open days a year. Works quite well. Also quietly understood here that an open day = 'working from home' at some point in the next couple of weeks! But yes, it is bloody frustrating I agree.

[GCAcademic]

We’re a tiny department, so are all expected to show up. The thing is that I often use Saturdays to keep up with research. So that won’t be happening now.

[bakedbeanzontoast]

Rota system in the places I have worked, although it always seems to be the same people who volunteer so its not fair, some staff are more self interested in bolstering their careers at the expense of sharing the workload fairly than others of course.

Open days and applicant days tend to revolve around telling them how good we are at curtailing to their every whim sigh

Did anyone else's welcome week turn out to be a big show of bending over backwards to be available at all times, whether the issue is a real one or the student has a broken fingernail?

grump

[Mumteedum]

@QueenRefusenik in theory we can have a rota but we are a team of two on a split campus with events on both sites and my colleague is new so doesn't kmow the course well enough yet. I've done every open day for over a year and a half juggling being a single parent too which is a nightmare as I don't have family support either.

Teaching started today which was fine.. Its the massive report I have to write for a deadline already passed and now a situation has cropped up looking like a screw up that will be a nightmare to sort. I want to run away.

[Mumteedum]

Oh and a day at home isn't possible in lieu of open days because I struggle to get my work done already.

[QueenRefusenik]

That sucks @mumteedum, I'm sorry. I don't really know what to suggest other than considering going to your manager or even above them? Ultimately tips for productivity can only get you so far!

[Mumteedum]

Thanks @QueenRefusenik. I've been having a self indulgent little moan. I know fixing this means identifying something I can ask for to help from management but I am a bit stumped just now.

Yesterday though I helped my productivity by working from home on my report and taking a nap. God it was amazing! Felt so much better afterwards!! I am also going back to counselling soon and at least work are paying, without having to let on to managers.