This paper explores the critical role of workplace design in mitigating employee burnout and fostering engagement. The authors argue that by focusing on the six burnout predictors identified by Maslach (2017) - workload, control, reward, community, fairness, and values - workplace design can create conditions that reduce the likelihood of burnout and enhance engagement.
The study synthesizes research from various disciplines, including human factors and ergonomics, environmental psychology, and organizational behavior, to provide a comprehensive framework for designing workplaces...
This article explores the critical role of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) in addressing the complex challenges of long-duration space exploration, particularly for the planned mission to Mars. The interdisciplinary nature of HF/E makes it uniquely suited to tackle the multifaceted issues involved in spacecraft habitat design and crew well-being.
There are various environmental, technological, psychosocial, and team factors that pose significant risks to astronauts during extended space missions. These include physical constraints of the habitat, physiological effects of space...
This article discusses the challenges of returning to the workplace post-pandemic and argues for the creation of healthy workplaces.
Key points:
Context: High rates of employee resignations and increased demands for health, safety, and well-being guarantees from employers. Reasons for quitting: Commute, loss of autonomy, poor organizational culture, job strain, and inequitable treatment. Changing expectations: Led by millennials, employees across generations are seeking better work-life balance and more fulfilling work experiences. Need for change: Employers...
This article examines the challenges of implementing hot-desking as employees return to offices following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key points:
Context: Employees face stress from returning to offices and adapting to new health protocols. Hot-desking definition: A system where employees choose workstations daily rather than having assigned spaces. Psychological impact: Hot-desking can be stressful for employees, conflicting with the human need for a stable, personalized workspace. Potential drawbacks: Difficulty locating teammates Challenges with storing personal...
This article argues for the strategic importance of creating healthy workplaces as a non-monetary benefit.
Key points:
Historical context: The article traces the evolution of workplace design from scientific management to the quality of work life movement, highlighting the neglect of human motivation in traditional approaches. Definition of healthy workplaces: A holistic approach that combines both physical and behavioral environments to support employee health, well-being, and productivity. Seven primary human needs: The authors identify autonomy, belongingness...
This article argues for the importance of designing workplaces with employee wellness in mind.
Key points:
The human cost of poor working conditions is often invisible but substantial, with research suggesting workplace stressors contribute to excess deaths and significant healthcare costs. Employee health and productivity are intrinsically linked through the "performance equation": performance = f(ability × motivation). Workplace conditions that compromise health affect both ability and motivation. There are seven "enablers" of need satisfaction that can be...
This presentation, led by Dustin Maneethai, Cristina G. Banks, Christopher J. L. Cunningham, Leslie Hammer, and Alan Witt, introduces a multidisciplinary approach to addressing workplace challenges and improving worker well-being. The format is inspired by the historical concept of "The Salon," encouraging open, diverse discussions to expand knowledge and thinking.
Key points:
Alan Witt discusses the importance of "place rights" and the power of physical environments in shaping work experiences. Cristina Banks emphasizes the role of I-O psychologists in building design, focusing...
This presentation by Cristina Banks (University of California, Berkeley) and Alan Witt (University of Houston) outlines an innovative approach to new building design that prioritizes occupant well-being and work effectiveness. The authors argue that new building projects present a unique opportunity to integrate Total Worker Health® principles from the ground up.
The presentation contrasts traditional building design processes, which often consider occupant needs late in the process, with a novel approach implemented for the Hobby School's new building. This new method involves...
The Outreach Core of the California Labor Laboratory (CALL) undertook a scoping review of health, safety, and well-being-related literatures. This scoping review was conducted with the intent of establishing a more extensive Total Worker Health® (TWH) knowledge base from which researchers and practitioners could extend their efforts toward greater integration of TWH principles through a more robust platform of collaboration with their interdisciplinary partners. Hypothesis: Awareness and greater appreciation of the roles other disciplines can play in the development of integrated and holistic...
Presentation to Workspace Oy, Helsinki, Finland, June 2023Presentation to CoreNet Houston, Houston TX, June 2023Presentation (virtual) to Google Workplace R&D Conference, March 2023
