What is a satisfactory work life balance?
The national agreement defines work/life balance as being “about helping teachers combine work with their personal interests outside work” and cites working hours and workload as key, but not exclusive, elements of this. Other elements include a sense of control, personal fulfillment, career development, work flexibility, physical and emotional wellbeing, and the will of both employers and employees to ensure staff enjoy a reasonable work/life balance. The national agreement acknowledges that teachers and headteachers often have excessive workloads and that every effort should be made to ensure that they, and by implication all other school staff, should enjoy a reasonable work/life balance. In accordance with the provisions of the National Agreement, and to fulfil the contractual provision in the STPCD, schools should have developed sustainable work/life balance initiatives and be monitoring the working hours of all staff. The governing body should be doing this in relation to the hea
