Mental Health in the Working World
New information and communication media are changing our world of work in many ways. They enable employees to be contacted on work matters or to carry out job assignments outside regular working hours, and away from their regular workplace. These cases are referred to as work-related extended availability.
Work-related extended availability is accompanied by both risks and opportunities for employees. If, for example, employees carry out additional work in their leisure time without receiving compensation regarding their regular working hours, this results in costs for their private life. On the other hand, it becomes possible to easier reconcile family and work if the latter can be carried out everywhere and at any time.
Current state of knowledge
A scoping review by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) summarises the state of scientific knowledge on work-related extended availability and observes its interrelations with (mental) health and well-being. It also describes its relations to motivation, job satisfaction and performance. The review also reveals research gaps and discusses options for designing this factor.
The project "Mental Health in the Working World"
The scoping review on work-related extended availability is part of the project "Mental Health in the Working World - determining the current state of scientific evidence". The project assesses mental load factors by means of the state of scientific knowledge.
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