Workers in several occupations, characterised by flexible location and time arrangements, experience a heavy mental workload, a screening procedure has found.
Screening mental workload
A study carried out by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (FIOSH), on Assessing the mental stress associated with flexible jobs (1.4Mb pdf; in German), examines work-related mental stress factors. The report explains the screening procedure (in German) used in assessing mental workload. This screening instrument has been developed to record characteristics of job activities that are flexible with regard to location and time. Further data have been collected on the mid-term and long-term consequences of mental workload on the health and well-being of employees.
Four different occupations were investigated: out-patient nursing of old people (home and sick nursing), bus drivers in public transport, police officers, and temporary agency workers. The screening procedure aims to determine the:
- work-related mental stress factors;
- perceived stress;
- consequences of mental workload.
Methodology
The empirical survey was based on:
- interviews with relevant management representatives, and observational data detecting external stress factors;
- an employee questionnaire designed to assess perceived stress.
The interviews with human resource managers and occupational health and safety personnel focused on certain aspects of the company, such as the facilities, and wage and staffing strategies, as well as on stress levels and the resources that were made available.
The observation procedure investigated the following essential features of the work situation:
- scope for decisions;
- complexity and variability;
- qualification requirements;
- risks and specific demands, and how they matched workers’ abilities;
- stressful conditions in carrying out the work.
The employee questionnaire survey allowed respondents to remain anonymous, so that workers could include personal information, such as their reflections on the work situation and an assessment of the perceived stress involved in their work.
Assessment
Key results of the expert assessment of stress factors reveal that mental workload is definitely experienced in out-patient nursing and by bus drivers, and that it is highly probable for police officers. Not all parts of the screening procedure could be conducted in the case of temporary agency workers.
Table 1 Mental workload, according to expert assessment
Mental workload, by occupation | Level of analysis | Out-patient nursing | Bus drivers | Police |
| Decision scope | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Complexity/variability | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Qualification requirements | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Work risks | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Stressful operational conditions | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Assessment level | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Note: 0=not serious strain; 1=serious strain; Sum value: 0=mental workload unlikely; 1=probable; 2=highly probable; 3=mental workload definitely experienced
The assessment of the perceived mental workload showed similar results. Mental workload is inherent in out-patient sick nursing, and among bus drivers and police officers; and it is highly probable for out-patient home nursing and temporary agency work.
Table 2 Assessment of perceived mental workload, according to employee questionnaire
Mental workload, by occupation | Level of analysis | Out-patient home nursing | Out-patient sick nursing | Bus drivers | Police | Temporary agency work |
| Decision scope | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Complexity/variability | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Qualification requirements | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Work risks | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Operational conditions | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Social inter-relations | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Assessment level | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Note: 0=not serious strain; 1=serious strain; Sum value: 0=mental workload unlikely; 1=probable; 2=highly probable; 3=mental workload definitely experienced
Key factors
Out-patient nursing of old people
Out-patient nursing staff have to deal with multiple changes in their work location within a typical working day, and regularly do shift work. They have limited opportunities for planning, with little predictability in their jobs. They also experience time pressures and a very high workload, with significant demands for high quality work. In addition, they have a special responsibility towards patients, and conflicts with patients may arise. The occupation includes difficult work positions, having to adapt constantly to new conditions, and the feeling of being left entirely to one’s own resources.
Bus drivers
Stressful characteristics include: location variability due to driving routes, shift work, work at weekends and public holidays, limited scope for decision-making, fixed driving schedules, and being obliged to stay at their work station. Further stress factors include: interruptions caused by traffic and customers, distractions during driving, conflicts with the public, time pressures, restricted physical movement due to their cramped workspace, noise, unfavourable temperatures, and limited opportunities for breaks. In addition, high demands are expected in terms of operational reliability, particularly under difficult traffic conditions.
Police officers
Police officers have to manage a constant change of work location between the police station and patrol duty at different locations, as well as shift work, overtime work, work at weekends and public holidays, and standby duty. They have limited opportunities for planning, with little predictability in their work. Furthermore, risk is an integral part of the job as they may face conflict or clashes with the public. Necessary information and working tools may be in short supply, and they have to perform several tasks at the same time, with a risk for serious mistakes, and the possibility of unfair performance evaluation.
Temporary agency workers
The work location normally remains the same for the duration of operation in a client company. Temporary agency workers experience clear limitations in their scope for decision-making, i.e. no influence on work content or methods, volume of work, autonomy, quality of the work cooperation, or breaks. They have limited opportunities for planning, experience little predictability, and face time pressures, long journey times, information deficits, and frequent task changes. The temporary agency workers in the sample show a poor job-skills match in terms of using their qualifications. Risks and consequences of mistakes are regarded as serious, and difficult social relations may arise regarding fair performance evaluation and recognition, with supervisors appearing to be unsupportive.
Mental workload outcomes
The analysis of consequences of mental workload investigates psycho-somatic problems, emotional exhaustion, and aversion towards clients or patients. The level of complaints across the occupations is low. However, temporary agency workers report health problems more frequently. Emotional exhaustion is a characteristic outcome of out-patient nursing jobs.
In general, the perceived stress level and its consequences depend more on the work content - in terms of decision scope, complexity/variability, qualification requirements and particular job demands - than on the working environment conditions in which the tasks are performed.
The detection of different patterns of stress factors, perceived stress, and outcomes enables the recommendation of specific interventions, tailored for particular occupational activities.