The Wellbeing of Mobile Personnel: Investigating the Ergonomic, Psychosocial and Organisation Factors for Remote and Isolated Workers
This research project is funded by the British Occupational Health Research Foundation BOHRF
http://www.bohrf.org.uk/
The aim of the study is to evaluate the health and wellbeing of UK Remote and Mobile workers who are based “on the road” and travel away from their base having minimal face-to-face contact with their managers or colleagues. We have defined this as individuals whose work tasks require them to be away from a home or office base for the majority of their working time with fewer than four hours of face-to-face contact with their managers or colleagues per week.
This group of workers is also described as:-
- nomadic or mobile teleworkers
- multi-locational e-workers
- dispersed technical workforces
The study began with a systematic review of relevant literature with regard to remote and mobile working. This was followed-up by a fact-finding series of interviews where a cross-section of individuals involved in remote and mobile working were interviewed.
The information obtained from the review was then fed forward into a questionnaire designed to evaluate the following:-
The questionnaire has been developed and piloted using a range of validated measures and specifically developed questions to identify any health or wellbeing concerns among this workforce; as well as any positive aspects of working in this way.
Work is currently ongoing on this research project with surveys being carried out with a number of different organisations carrying out different work types. The results of the project will not only further knowledge with regard to this group of workers but will be developed into policies and guidance for the management of remote and mobile workers.