Throw-away workers or sustainable workplaces? : the Australian workplace barometer
Date
2007
Authors
Dollard, M.F.
Skinner, N.J.
Editors
Straker, S.
L., L.
L., L.
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Conference paper
Citation
A healthy society : safe, satisfied and productive : the proceedings of the 43rd Annual Conference of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia, 2007 / Straker, S., L., L. (ed./s), pp.8-17
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
43rd Annual Conference of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia (26 Nov 2007 : Perth, Western Australia)
Abstract
There is an urgent and pressing need to address the issue of work stress in Australian workplaces. Do we want to build sustainable workplaces or simply throw-away and replace worn out or damaged workers? This paper argues for a national surveillance system of psychosocial factors at work as a means to build sustainable work contexts, and discusses national progress towards that goal. Drawing on the dynamism of the Job Demand-Resources Model the system will enable the exploration of the complexity of work stress by examining interactions between job demands, job resources, work engagement, mental (e.g. depression) and physical health and important organisational outcomes such as productivity loss in dollar terms. It will enable benchmarking of Australian work conditions against international standards, and the tracking of important temporal trends in conditions and work-related mental and physical health. Australian researchers will participate in high quality theory driven longitudinal research of crucial practical importance nationally and of theoretical importance internationally. Specifically the study will assist in understanding workplace health and productivity in terms of job conditions, demands and resources. It will underscore costly consequences of stressful jobs e.g. depression related workplace productivity loss in dollar terms. Australian governments, unions, and OHS organisations will have access to high quality evidence to: design and evaluate OHS interventions; inform prevention campaigns, policies and practice; benchmark progress at national levels; monitor changing trends, and develop national standards.
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