Workload management
Workload is caused by the use of one’s physical, mental, social and cognitive capabilities at work. Workload factors can be associated with the work community, the organisation’s operating methods or the working environment.
A workload has positive effects when it is appropriate to the employee’s resources and harmful when it is too heavy or too light. A harmful workload causes stress. The effects are manifested in body and emotional reactions, as well as changes in perception and functioning. The total workload consists of the combined effect of work and leisure time. The key to managing workload is recovery.
Osion alasivut
Physical workload
Physical workload factors include working positions and motions, movement and the use of physical strength. Excessive physical strain is linked to musculoskeletal symptoms. The strain caused by work should be appropriate for the employee, taking into account their health and functional capacity.
Psychosocial workload
The psychosocial workload factors of work refer to the characteristics or features of work tasks, work dimensioning and planning, work arrangements, management, work community and interaction, working environment and organisation that affect people. These are factors that cause strain regardless of the person performing the work. Workload factors are present at all workplaces, regardless of size and sector.
Cognitive strain
Cognitive functioning is a mutual effort between the different areas of information processing that enable people to cope in their day-to-day lives and their demands.
Cognitive functions are psychological functions related to the reception, processing, storage and use of information.
Ethical and emotional strain
Ethical strain refers to experiences of stress and strain caused by ethical challenges. Ethical strain is caused by conflicts between personal values and the operating environment.