2021 APA Convention: Technology, Mind, and Society
Topic: Workplace Technology that Promotes Health and Well-Being
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We ask the question: Which in-workplace technologies actually support employee health and well-being in concrete and impactful ways, and which technology does not?” We focus on how technology can support health and well-being in general and in particular, reduce the likelihood of employee burnout. Our assessment based on criteria derived from studies showing that basic human need satisfaction underlies health, well-being, and productivity (Maslach & Banks, 2017; Deci & Ryan, 2000; Ayoko & Ashkanasy, 2020) and can build resilience to burnout (Maslach & Leiter, in press). Extensive literature within the fields of environmental psychology, occupational health psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology provides a structure to link forms of technology, the design of physical work environments, and fundamental organizational forces to well-being. These literatures have in common a core framework grounded in the importance of satisfying human needs: when basic needs are satisfied, stress is reduced, health and well-being is supported, and productivity is improved through greater focus, intrinsic motivation, and physical capability. We identify seven needs that are most relevant to the world of work: (1) autonomy; (2) social belonging; (3) competence/mastery; (4) physical and psychological safety; (5) meaning and purpose; and (6) positive emotions (Maslach and Banks, 2017), and evaluate five different forms of work-related technology regarding their potential for supporting need satisfaction and burnout suppression: (1) EQ controls; (2) Occupancy; (3) Personal Status; (4) Communications; and (5) Self-Help. We present a framework to inform the development of technology to encourage supportive in-workplace experience.
Contents:
- What is human-centered design?
- Which technology supports health and well-being in concrete and impactful ways?
- Common workplace technology
- How can technology support satisfaction of basic needs?
- Evaluating workplace technology
Conclusions:
- Need satisfaction can be achieved through different types of technology
- Competence, Autonomy, and Safety served through EQ Controls
- Autonomy and Safety served through Occupancy Monitors
- Competence, Belonging, and Positive Emotions served by Communications
- Positive Emotions potentially served through Personal Feedback and Self-Help technology
- Caveat: This technology can be helpful but it depends on how this technology is used in practice