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Tackling excessive workload

We are committed to resolving the problem of excess workload. A Joint Workload Management Group has been established to engage with the issues and determine plans of action.

The group includes representatives from all three campus trade unions and is chaired by board member Professor Tracy Lightfoot, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, pulling in expertise from across the University as needed. 

Our goal is a manageable workload for all employees. We are considering the challenges of workload across all areas of activity, including teaching, research and professional services, as well as within the University's culture as a whole. 

Staff feedback

You told us that your workloads were unpredictable and ever-increasing. The constant pressure was having an impact on your mental and physical health. 

Some of you were regularly working weekends and evenings. 

A high teaching and administration load for academics was making it difficult for you to pursue your research interests and was leading to 'firefighting' rather than having the time and space to reflect on working practices and make improvements.

Professional Services staff were having to deal with issues such as covering for colleagues, absorbing additional tasks to cover vacant roles, incorporating project or change work on top of day jobs, and managing uneven workloads across the year. These issues meant some staff couldn’t find the time to learn new skills to cope with the demands being made of them. 

Get involved

Throughout October 2026 we are asking all staff to complete a survey on their workload. The survey will help us understand specific workload challenges and gather your ideas for solutions.

It’s quick and easy to respond using our Hive survey tool. Search your inbox for an email from Hive with your unique link to the survey. You can also access the survey by logging in to the Hive homepage.

The survey is completely confidential and no one at the University will be able to see the source of the feedback you give. To find out more about how Hive keeps your feedback confidential, see their confidentiality commitment.

Your wellbeing

Workload and wellbeing are inextricably linked. The pressure of excessive workload can have a negative impact on your wellbeing, and it can be hard to work effectively if you are struggling with emotional, mental or physical issues.

Find out more about workload and wellbeing

Our progress so far

We have developed University-wide principles which provide an overarching direction that Faculties and departments can apply to their own initiatives. The principles also provide a benchmark for future assessments of workload. 

We have gathered some 'quick wins' and we are developing ways to share examples of best practice with staff. 

We have highlighted the implications for workload when projects are considered by UEB and Senate, to ensure that careful thought is given to the impact on workload when new initiatives are being planned. 

A sector-wide issue

Identifying the issues behind workload is complex, and solutions need to draw on addressing pressures and ways of working both beyond and inside organisations.

As a sector, we can work as a collective, and as individual universities, we can examine our own pressure points to identify challenges, remove barriers and find better ways to support our staff.

Above all, we know how important achieving a positive workload balance can be to the mental health and wellbeing of our staff, who are the driving force in making our universities such great places to work, research, teach and study.

Professor Tracy Lightfoot, Chair of the Joint Working Group on tackling excessive workload

Workload is one of the top issues we hear about from our members. We are pleased to say that we have been fully involved from the start of this project, and we are happy to encourage all staff to fill in the workload survey. We are committed to working with University management to try to resolve workload-related problems across the institution.

York UCU branch executive committee

Professional and support staff have come under increasing strain during this period of financial uncertainty in the HE sector. Many members tell us their workload has increased due to team reductions or reorganisations driven by voluntary severance measures in 2024-25. We are committed to partnering with University management to address workload issues and monitor ongoing progress.

York UNISON branch