In 2014, the Ontario Principals’ Council (OPC) commissioned us to conduct a study on principals’ work. In that study, The Changing Nature of Principals’ Work, we found that principals have little autonomy in their work, and that they struggle to achieve workûlife balance while working long work hours and meeting the demands associated with increased layers of accountability. Findings from the 2014 survey also revealed that implementing provincial initiatives and managing the many diverse concerns of stakeholders in the school and in the school community present challenges for contemporary principals. Participating principals reported coping with these challenges in different ways. In the time that has passed since this study, the nature of principals’ work continues to change, including an increased focus on the mental health and well-being of staff, students, and parents. This current study is federally funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and aims to build on our previous work by developing a more comprehensive understanding of the contemporary factors that influence principals’ work intensification, including health and safety concerns. This research includes an additional focus on principals’ perceptions of their own well-being and how their various types of well-being (including physical, emotional, cognitive, social, psychological, and spiritual) are affected by draining situations they encounter at work.

Executive Summary -- Introduction -- Purpose of the Study -- Background and Rationale for Research -- Methodology -- Data Collection and Analysis -- Description of the Sample -- Findings -- Theme 1: Work Intensification -- Theme 2: Well-Being --Theme 3: Health and Safety -- Theme 4: Coping Strategies -- Recommendations -- Conclusion -- References.