Envisioning the future of work to safeguard the safety, health, and well‐being of the workforce: A perspective from the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Work organization practices, including work flexibility, are changing and can affect worker well-being. Common work flexibility types include working at home, taking time off when needed, and changing one’s work schedule. Given the changes in and the importance of work flexibility, the study assesses its prevalence and association with worker well-being in the United States. We used 2002–2018 General Social Survey—Quality of Worklife (GSS-QWL) data, descriptive statistics, and regression analyses to assess the reported likelihood of job stress, job satisfaction, healthy days, and days with activity limitations among workers reporting work flexibility. The prevalence of work flexibility remained relatively stable during the period examined. Working at home increased the likelihood of job stress by 22% and job satisfaction by 65%. Taking time off decreased the likelihood of job stress by 56% and days with activity limitations by 24%, and more than doubled the likelihood of job satisfaction. Changing one’s schedule decreased the likelihood of job stress by 20% and increased the likelihood of job satisfaction by 62%. This study used all the available data from GSS-QWL and demonstrated the ongoing importance of work flexibility for well-being.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work Flexibility and Work-Related Well-Being

Ray

Pana-Cryan

2021

“…Future study is needed to explore the transactions that occur among a worker, the workspace, and an AI system to better understand these interplays and the implications of worker health, work performance, and other organizational or environmental impacts within future office work contexts [ 26 ]. Such a multifaceted approach could result in robust, efficacious workplace worker health solutions [ 20 , 34 ] with additional far-reaching benefits.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fluctuations in social and organizational practices, changes in worker demographics, and advances in technology are rapidly reshaping the future of office work in ways that may amplify these potential detriments to worker health and well-being [ 20 ]. While the contemporary trend in offices was to offer open environments with shared workstations (e.g., hot-desking) [ 21 , 22 ], the COVID-19 pandemic has recently led organizations to consider alternative workflows and work arrangements [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Once formed, habits can dictate how a person engages with their environment, even when those behaviors have negative health impacts [ 33 ]. These factors are further amplified by the ever-increasing diversity in the workforce, work design, and work settings, and there is a growing need for a multifaceted approach that can support worker health and well-being [ 20 , 34 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Worker Perspectives on Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into Office Workspaces: Implications for the Future of Office Work

Fukumura

Gray

Lucas

et al. 2021

Workplace environments have a significant impact on worker performance, health, and well-being. With machine learning capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI) can be developed to automate individualized adjustments to work environments (e.g., lighting, temperature) and to facilitate healthier worker behaviors (e.g., posture). Worker perspectives on incorporating AI into office workspaces are largely unexplored. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore office workers’ views on including AI in their office workspace. Six focus group interviews with a total of 45 participants were conducted. Interview questions were designed to generate discussion on benefits, challenges, and pragmatic considerations for incorporating AI into office settings. Sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an iterative approach. Two primary constructs emerged. First, participants shared perspectives related to preferences and concerns regarding communication and interactions with the technology. Second, numerous conversations highlighted the dualistic nature of a system that collects large amounts of data; that is, the potential benefits for behavior change to improve health and the pitfalls of trust and privacy. Across both constructs, there was an overarching discussion related to the intersections of AI with the complexity of work performance. Numerous thoughts were shared relative to future AI solutions that could enhance the office workplace. This study’s findings indicate that the acceptability of AI in the workplace is complex and dependent upon the benefits outweighing the potential detriments. Office worker needs are complex and diverse, and AI systems should aim to accommodate individual needs.

“…Occupational-based studies have associated high-dose EtO exposure with acute health outcomes such as nausea, vomiting, bronchitis, pulmonary edema, emphysema, and miscarriage [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Long-term exposures at lower levels over periods of several months to years may cause irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory passages as well as headache, nausea, memory loss, and numbness [ 2 , 3 ]. The National Toxicology Program, USEPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have all determined that EtO is carcinogenic [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Levels of Ethylene Oxide Biomarker in an Exposed Residential Community

Szwiec

Friedman

Buchanan

2020

The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is a difference in ethylene oxide (EtO) biomarker levels based on residential proximity to facilities emitting EtO, a carcinogen. We recruited residents living near two EtO-emitting facilities and administered a questionnaire on items such as address and length of residency, smoking habits, occupational exposures to EtO, and demographics. We also collected venous blood samples to measure an EtO biomarker, hemoglobin adduct N-2-hydroxyethyl-valine (HbEO), and cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine. Questionnaires and blood samples were collected from 93 participants. The overall geometric HbEO adduct level was 35.0 pmol/gmHb and for nonsmokers it was 29.7 pmol/gmHb. Mean HbEO adduct levels were not significantly associated with sex, age, race, BMI, or education level. HbEO adduct levels for nonsmoking participants who lived in a neighborhood approximately 0.8 km from one of the facilities were significantly higher compared to persons living farther away (p < 0.001). These results suggest that facilities that emit EtO may put nearby communities at risk of cancer and other associated health outcomes.