This study examines quality of academic worklife in Czech public universities to assess the extent to which the global drive towards marketisation in higher education has affected Czech academic staff. A total of 2229 academics (men = 57.1%) completed a survey measuring their job satisfaction, job stress, and work environment perceptions. Findings revealed high levels of overall job satisfaction (83.6% satisfied with their jobs) and relatively low levels of stress (13.7% regularly stressed). Most academics reported positive features of their work environment including autonomy and quality, role clarity, influence over academic work, and a strong social community. Negative features included dissatisfaction with pay, poor leadership, and pressure to produce. Job satisfaction was significantly associated with traditional academic values (focus on quality, involvement in decision-making, commitment to the workplace, recognition), while stress was linked to market-related aspects (pressure to produce, quantitative work demands, job insecurity). The study highlighted relatively high levels of well-being among Czech faculty, which can be attributed to the continued prevalence of a traditional, professor-oriented academic system based on autonomy and collegiality. Despite recent market-oriented changes within Czech research policy, the negative effects of marketisation are not yet pronounced in the quality of academic worklife in public universities, except for the increasing pressure for productivity.
Mobbing (neboli šikanování na pracovišti) označuje opakované agresivní chování na pracovišti zaměřené na jednu nebo více osob, které shledávají obtížným se tomuto jednání bránit. Sociálněvědní výzkum v průběhu posledních dvou desetiletí ukázal, že mobbing představuje relativně rozšířenou, byť zpravidla skrytou součást pracovních vztahů v soukromých i státních organizacích. Tento článek se zaměřuje na specifickou problematiku mobbingu ve vysokoškolském prostředí, pro které jsou typické relativně subtilní a nepřímé formy hostilního jednání, které nicméně mají devastující dopad jak na jedince, tak na fungování celé vzdělávací instituce. Autorka se na základě zahraničních výzkumů zabývá incidencí, formami, příčinami a důsledky mobbingu v prostředí vysokých škol. Jejím cílem je popsat zejména sociální a organizační faktory vzniku mobbingu, jako jsou intenzifikace práce, nejistota na pracovním trhu, komodifikace vzdělávání a další. V závěru diskutuje formy intervence vhodné pro sektor terciárního vzdělávání a předkládá doporučení pro budoucí výzkum. and Mobbing in higher education: an overview of international research
Mobbing (or workplace bullying) refers to a repeated aggressive behavior directed at one or more individuals who find it difficult to defend themselves. During the last two decades, social science research has shown that mobbing represents a relatively widespread, yet mostly hidden aspect of workplace relations both in private and state organizations. This paper focuses on mobbing in higher education, with a particular attention paid to mobbing at universities. Mobbing in higher education is characterized by relatively subtle and indirect forms of hostile behavior which, nevertheless, have devastating impact on its targets, as well as on educational institutions. Based on the overview of current international research, the author discusses the incidence, forms, causes, and consequences of mobbing in higher education. The paper further draws attention to social and organizational factors of mobbing, such as the intensification of workload, growing job insecurity, or commoditization of education. In conclusion, the author identifies forms of intervention suitable for the higher education sector and offers recommendations for future research.