Employee assistance provision in higher education

Describes how in recent years a greater priority has been given to improving health in the workplace and throughout the workforce. The increased awareness of and investment in employee wellbeing in commercial organizations, however, has not extended to UK higher education. When viewed in the light of the changing and increasing pressures placed on this sector in recent years, and the increasing insecurity and instability which arise therefrom, this appears an important oversight. Universities are primarily “people organizations”, success being fundamentally dependent on the abilities and performance of the human resource. Even small institutions have a high financial investment in both their academic and non‐academic staff. Argues that there is therefore a strong prima facie case for more proactive health care measures to be implemented in order to respond to the myriad organizational personnel problems associated with changes in higher education. Aims to highlight some of the characteristics of the university environment which distinguish it from other types of employing organization.