IMPACT: Skills development for economic growth is an international priority. Vocational education and training (VET) is globally an instrument to deliver skills training to the public. Internationally, public servants working in VET, and specifically in the UK, are not immune to mental health challenges and poor well-being, at significant cost to the public purse. This article argues that VET staff’s well-being should be prioritized and sustained by proactively managing work stress and work–life balance. The authors propose a more strategic, future-orientated and preventative approach. Policy-makers, line managers and human resource professionals would do well by investing in VET teachers’ and administrators’ psycho-social well-being and therefore limit the consequent costs associated with mental health related productivity issues, absenteeism and turnover. A sustainable people management approach, investing in a healthy work-context, will outweigh the costs and harmful effects of performance problems, absences and turnover in the public service. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Author Keywords
Index Keywords
