Teachers in Austria: 51 unpaid days and growing stress!

Teachers in Austria: 51 unpaid days and growing stress!

A recent study by “GoStudent” shows that teachers in Austria work unpaid for an average of 51 days. This alarming finding highlights the significant challenges many teachers face on a daily basis as staff shortages force them to work longer hours. According to the study, over 66% of those surveyed report that their workload increases significantly due to the absence of colleagues. Teachers also work during holidays that are not completely off work, investing over 130 hours in lesson planning and corrections during this time. Teachers are said to work an average of 12 hours of overtime per week during school hours, with the majority of this overtime going towards lesson planning, material preparation and corrections.

The study is based on a comprehensive survey and time use analysis and includes 252 teachers from the UK, Austria, Germany, Italy and Spain. Participants from all school levels were included in the analysis, which makes the results even more significant. Surprisingly, more than two-thirds of respondents say long working hours have a negative impact on their mental health. Of particular concern is the fact that more than 50% of teachers are demanding financial support from the government, as 72% of respondents believe that too little is being done to compensate for overtime.

Stress in the teaching profession

Another aspect that puts a strain on teachers' working conditions is the false public perception of the teaching profession as a part-time job. Many teachers have a shared workplace, which includes teaching at school as well as preparation and follow-up work. In Germany, where, according to statistics, teachers complete many teaching hours compared to those in the EU, dealing with unmotivated and undisciplined students and the high noise level in the classroom lead to additional stress. This is reinforced by the fact that teachers often cannot find a clear separation between professional and private life. Fifteen percent of teachers also believe that their work is made more stressful by additional tasks and administrative tasks.

The corona pandemic has not improved the situation; School closures and inadequate digital options have led to an increase in workload and stress. Studies show that around one in three teachers feel overloaded. The importance of teacher health has long been recognized, which is why the development of preventative measures and techniques for dealing with stress is urgently needed.

Health promotion measures

In order to meet the challenges in the teaching profession, various federal states are establishing health promotion programs. In Baden-Württemberg there are special offers for health promotion, while Bavaria wants to improve job satisfaction with the “LehrKraftStärken” program. Berlin and Brandenburg rely on structured health management with analysis of the initial health situation. These programs often also include coaching and training to improve physical and mental health.

Educational researcher Bärbel Wesselborg investigates the factors that lead to stress among teachers. Her research has already led to new insights into stress and resilience factors in the teaching profession, which could be crucial for developing positive changes. The need to view teacher health as an integral part of everyday school life and to promote a culture of feedback in order to reduce the stress and strengthen the health of teachers becomes all the greater.