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A new framework for improving worker health and well-being while maintaining or enhancing employee engagement and productivity, has been released by researchers. The “Work Design for Health” framework—developed by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and MIT Sloan School of Management researchers—maps how to create work environments that foster worker health and well-being. It explains whyRead more

New labour laws have been passed in Portugal that prohibit employers from contacting employees by phone, message or email outside of normal working hours. The new laws follow legislation put forward by the Socialist Party to improve the work-life balance of remote workers. With COVID-19 causing a rise in home working, there has been increasedRead more

A new statistical report released by Safe Work Australia has revealed claims related to occupational violence have more than doubled since the start of the century. Preliminary data shows there were approximately 2,900 assault-related serious claims in 2019-20. A serious claim is an accepted workers’ compensation claim for an incapacity resulting in one week orRead more

Retail workers are experiencing increased abuse from customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research. A report from the University of Sydney and the Australian National University (ANU) reveals over half of Australian retail workers have experienced an increase in customer abuse since the onset of the pandemic. Over 1100 workers from retail, fastRead more

Redesigned office spaces could reduce stress and improve health benefits for workers, according to new research. A paper published by University of Arizona researchers aims to become the go-to guide for architects, planners and others in the building industry for designing workspaces that improve emotional well-being and physical health. Merging the fields of integrative medicineRead more

While many organisations generally have strong health programs or mental health offerings in place for their workforce, these are not always incorporated into daily operations, according to Dan Collins, founder and director of high-performance consulting firm Winners at all Levels. “This means our leaders aren’t necessarily coaching the mental frameworks that keep us well emotionally,Read more

There have been around 170 directions issued in South Australia since the start of the pandemic, and with each direction comes new rules, according to Martin Haese, CEO of Business SA. Determining the interplay with existing arrangements each time is complex, to say the least, said Haese: “add to that the speed with which theRead more

Small business operators face unique challenges in managing their workers’ mental health as well as their own – in an environment where the economic, social and individual, importance of mental health has never been more prominent, according to a new report from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). The new report from theRead more

Flexible workers feel better rested, more engaged, and have a higher sense of wellbeing than their office-based counterparts, according to a new study. Commissioned by the NSW Government, the Edith Cowan University study analysed the experiences of 1,039 NSW-based flexible workers throughout the 2020 pandemic lockdown to determine their psychological risk compared with non-flexible workers.Read more

Turning cameras off during virtual meetings could reduce employee fatigue, according to a new study, The study looked at the role of cameras in feelings of fatigue experienced after virtual meetings and whether these effects are stronger for certain employees. Study co-author and University of Arizona Professor Allison Gabriel said that while there’s an assumptionRead more