Between teaching work and institutional structure: perceptions of QWL in a context of structural precarization

Abstract

This study analyzes the perception of faculty members at a federal university regarding their Quality of Life at Work (QWL), articulating Walton's model with critical frameworks on neoliberalism, capitalist realism, and the management of psychological suffering. A descriptive case study was conducted with 21 faculty members from CCSO/UFPel, using a mixed questionnaire applied in 2019. The results indicate a strong contrast between intrinsic factors, which support satisfaction (autonomy, relationship with students, social meaning of work), and extrinsic factors, marked by structural precarization (deficient infrastructure, legal insecurity, and budget cuts). The exploratory findings suggest the hypothesis that faculty suffering may be politically produced by a context of institutional dismantling interpreted by faculty members as transforming rights into uncertainties and amplifying individual overload. It is concluded that QWL interventions focused solely on individual well-being are insufficient, and that material recomposition, guaranteeing institutional security, and strengthening collective relationships are necessary.