Digital Stress at Work and How to Reduce It
15 Dezember, 2020
Happiness Academy starts work on a two-year multinational project called “STRESS-LESS” with the aim to help SMEs alleviate stress, caused by intensive use of digital devices at work.
Especially as a result of digital transformation and the associated changes in business models, workflows and the use of digital tools, employees are faced with constantly increasing demands in terms of e.g. flexibility, accessibility and transparency. As a consequence of this progress workers and managers are suffering growing stress-related conditions: It is already proven that digital stress is related to reduction of productivity, work satisfaction and motivation and also connected to higher risk of burn-out and to an unbalanced work-life relationship.
The above considerations are particularly important with regard to today’s COVID-19 crisis. Everywhere in Europe drastic changes of the daily work routine can be observed. Anti-COVID activities are leading to the need to digitalize work even more. The consequence is an increased digitally caused stress. The STRESS-LESS project will provide up-to-date figures on how the new digital stress is being dealt with and, above all, provide solutions for small (also micro) and medium-sized companies (SME). SMEs have few resources to deal with the problems of digitization and even more to deal with the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, yet they represent 99% of all enterprises in the EU. In order to maintain their position in the value chains of the future, however, they must push ahead with the digital transformation and at the same time respond to the needs of their employees.
Within the project will be developed new training content about prevention and management of digital stress. It will be applicable in work-based settings or in “home-office” settings for SMEs, their staff, managers and trainers/mentors. The programmes will be available via web portal and mobile app. The innovative digital training tools will help users to learn how to prevent and manage digital stress and to develop the habits and discipline required for this (how to cope with digital stress). They will help SME staff and other learners will be healthier, less stressed, easier to communicate with, suffer less from depression and burn-out.
The project is carried out under the leadership of BF/M-Bayreuth, Germany. The Bayreuth Research Institute for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises at the University of Bayreuth is a non-profit research organization with close ties to the University of Bayreuth and more than 40 years of history. The successful two-way transfer of insights from business science and its tailored adaptation in the business or the academic world is among BF/M main expertise.
The project draws in also the expertise of the following international partners:
Hafelekar, Austria is a consultancy, founded in 2001 that combines expertise in managerial, social and educational sciences. Customers are business companies, non-profit organisations as well as organizations in the public sector.
Happiness Academy (HA), Bulgaria is a training organization with the mission to teach what was not taught in traditional classrooms: how to live a life of happiness and fulfilment. Its trainings are upon scientifically validated evidence and content to create innovative training programmes for adults and for young people, based on positive psychology.
Consultoria de Inovacion Social (CIS), Spain is a consulting company: The team of CIS has experience for many years in different environments in the field of creative idea development, business organisation and action planning, staff recruiting and HR management, training of adults and youth, training of trainers, mentors and coaches.
Horizon Software Solutions (HSS), UK is the technical partner in the project. HSS is a trusted technology partner to organizations – from start-ups to multi-national organisations, banks, insurance companies, and s.o. With a track record of more than 25 years, the HSS team delivers innovative solutions that are both intuitively usable and closely aligned with the needs of the organizations. It already has successful track record in developing mobile application for learning and habits development purposes.
The project has been funded by the Erasmus+ Programme (Key Action 2: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices) and will be implemented in the period 01.09.2020-31.08.2022.
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The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
