More than one third of Sussex University staff feel they are put under unreasonable pressure at work.

In an independent survey carried out by the Industrial Society, 40 per cent of employees felt they were victims of excessive strain.

Staff were also negative about their career prospects within the campus, the rewards given for performance and the availability of resources.

Senior officers at the university came under fire for their lack of communication and because they did not take staff views into account.

But employees were upbeat about their working relationships with their colleagues and immediate managers and appeared to have a greater awareness of the university's aims than workers in other organisations.

The survey, dubbed an Organisational Health Check, was jointly commissioned by the University and campus trade unions. It achieved a 52 per cent response.

University chiefs are already introducing a number of new measures in a bid to tackle problems flagged up by the survey.

The Vice Chancellor has started meetings each term with staff groups to discuss concerns informally and to bolster the existing channels of communication.

Access to information will also be improved by greater use of the University website and in future new or changed policies and procedures will be notified to staff by direct mailing.

Staff welfare officer Richard Price said a new stress management policy will shortly be sent to all staff. The policy will be supported by a full Occupational Health Service run by Brighton Health Trust with a regular presence on campus from August 2000.

The university hopes the appointment of two new staff development officers earlier this year will address the negative response to career prospects with the development of its annual planning strategy.

In addition greater emphasis will be put on the effective implementation of appraisals, with clearer information and training being provided to staff on the processes.

Staff welfare officer Richard Price said: "The Vice Chancellor and his team have addressed the survey findings at a number of levels.

"It is also likely a follow-up survey will be carried out in due course to assess the impact of these and subsequent changes on staff opinion."