What affects the working environment?

Thematically, the working environment can be split into four main elements:

• organisational
• psychosocial
• physical
• chemical/biological

Pål Molander is the Director General at the Norwegian National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI) and he says that research clearly shows that the most important factors that inhibit or promote the working environment are those directly linked to the work itself. "All workplaces are different and involve different working environment challenges. The working environment is therefore about the actual work, about what we do at work. This is why the working environment affects employee health, work commitment and business performance. It is simply about creating good working conditions," says Molander.

Pål Molander explains that similar challenges are often seen across different businesses, industries and sectors. Examples include:

• the combination of high work demands
• limited opportunity to influence how work is performed
• imbalance between the individual’s perception of their efforts and the extent to which this is experienced as being valued in relation to roles, responsibilities and allocation of work

He also highlights management factors, such as whether managers act fairly, provide social support and facilitate each employee being able to perform at their best, as well as the extent to which it is possible to create a working situation with maximum predictability. In the construction and civil engineering industry, there are also a number of challenges linked to chemical and mechanical exposure, such as exposure to dust, noise or uncomfortable working postures.

How to create a positive working environment

"The working environment differs from workplace to workplace and requires different approaches," Molander explains. "It is therefore a good idea to carry out surveys that can form the basis for such development work. It is also important to measure this over time, as this provides excellent learning that can be applied when dealing with challenges."

Work can inhibit and promote health

"We tend to say that work is good for our health. But this requires one crucial aspect that many people forget: a positive working environment," Molander says. "It has been well documented that, if a positive working environment is not in place, then this can instead be bad for our health. Anyone who has a need for inclusion, for example, is generally more vulnerable than the majority of people in working life. There are often good reasons to explain why someone has fallen out of working life or never managed to fully become part of it. For these people, it is particularly important to ensure that they experience a positive working environment so that they have the support needed to cross thresholds – thresholds that can be higher for them than they are for others. When they do cross these thresholds, they will often become highly competent, loyal and talented employees who make clear and positive contributions to value creation. In other words, focusing on a positive and inclusive working environment is good for the individual, good for the business and not least, good for society."