The thesis examines the psychosocial hazards faced by employees in kindergartens during their work. In the theoretical part, I first described what psychosocial hazards are and provided a more detailed overview of some of the most common ones. I then addressed the consequences of psychosocial hazards and discussed ways of managing and preventing them, with a particular focus on the role of social work in this context. Finally, I presented the organization of work in kindergartens. The research investigates which psychosocial hazards kindergarten employees perceive, how these hazards affect their well-being and satisfaction, the role of leadership in managing these hazards, and the strategies employees use to cope with them. A qualitative research approach was used, using a non-probability convenience sample of eight employees from the same kindergarten, including four teachers and four teacher assistants. The results indicate that kindergarten employees perceive the following psychosocial hazards: excessive workload demands, overload, lack of emotional and practical support from colleagues and superiors, poor relationships among colleagues, interactions with parents, particularly violent communication from parents, and an imbalance between personal and professional life. All these hazards impact their well-being and job satisfaction. Regarding the role of leadership in managing hazards, the findings suggest that kindergarten employees perceive support in terms of physical health, but feel a lack of measures addressing mental health issues. Consequently, employees feel they must manage these issues independently, relying on physical activity, relaxation techniques, open communication, and ongoing problem-solving. Based on these results, it is recommended that leadership increase its focus on employees' mental health by providing assistance and support. Moreover, it is proposed that counseling services pay closer attention to employees experiencing stress and difficulties. Additionally, supporting the teachers' suggestion, visual awareness campaigns on the importance of non-violent communication and the inclusion of a contractual clause on zero tolerance for violence are recommended. Systemic measures, such as reducing child-to-staff ratios in classrooms to alleviate workload, are also deemed necessary.
|
