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Led by researchers from the University of Sydney Business School, the peer-reviewed research synthesises existing studies on how technology-driven changes at work will impact workplace mental health and employee wellbeing.

Published in the the paper reviewed over 100 studies to examine why technology is a 鈥渄ouble-edged sword鈥�, impacting workers and businesses in both positive and negative ways.

鈥淲hile technology can streamline many aspects of work, its continued use with few breaks can be really draining, especially when the boundaries between work and home life are blurred,鈥� said co-author Dr Shanta Dey from the Discipline of Work & Organisational Studies.

The study highlights key self-care strategies including:

• following a regular routine that includes physical exercise,
• taking regular breaks and
• customising notifications on various digital devices.

Co-directors of the Body, Heart and Mind in Business Research Group, Associate Professors Helena Nguyen and Anya Johnson, said managers have a critical role to play in modelling health behaviour for employees, especially as many Australians start working from offices again.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that managers and supervisors embed systems for routinely checking in on the wellbeing of their employees. This can be especially difficult without in-person contact,鈥� said Associate Professor Helena Nguyen.

鈥淢anagers鈥� increasing confidence to initiate conversations about mental health and wellbeing has been a silver lining of this pandemic, and will be even more critical as they navigate returning to offices.鈥�

Associate Professor Anya Johnson added, 鈥淓mployees need to be involved in the decision-making process around the implementation of new systems and procedures.

鈥淗aving some level of control and actively participating in change are important protective job design features for mental health. This is even more important when so many of the factors impacting people鈥檚 work in recent months has been dependent on controlling the spread of the virus.鈥�

Co-author on the paper, Professor Nicholas Glozier from the University鈥檚 Brain and Mind Centre, said:听鈥淔or many people, new working patterns may challenge the daily routines that help keep our body clocks stable.鈥�

The multi-disciplinary team of researchers concluded in the paper, 鈥淢ental health needs to be higher on the work agenda.鈥�

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