Poster Presentation 6th World Congress on Positive Psychology 2019

Optimising Job Design To Help Current And Future Employees Flourish: Recommendations From A Review Of The Intervention Literature (#825)

Cameron J Williams 1 , Mark Larsen 1 , Suzanne Dziurawiec 2
  1. Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney
  2. Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia

While leading work-stress theories have been applied in thousands of correlational/longitudinal studies, theory-driven ‘intervention’ research encouraging optimal job-design remains rare (Siegrist, 2016). Therefore, to help individuals flourish, this presentation will synthesise peer-reviewed research from online databases (e.g., PsycINFO, ProQuest) to present a three-step intervention model. Ultimately, this model will highlight the need for individual-level interventions (to reduce risk factors and increase personal resources; e.g., mindfulness, PsyCap); organisation-wide interventions (to optimise job characteristics; e.g., workplace autonomy and support); and country-wide policies (to ensure all organisations maintain minimum standards to enhance wellbeing/growth). From this comprehensive review, multiple suggestions will be offered for these three levels, and the integrated nature of these approaches will be discussed (with specific reference to the overarching need for strong psychosocial-safety climates; Dollard & Bakker, 2010). Additionally, because prior interventions have demonstrated equivocal results, we will explore factors that influence/moderate a program’s success (thus providing theoretical and ‘best-practice’ recommendations for researchers/practitioners). Lastly, to supplement the presentation’s main focus (i.e., the literature review), mixed-methods data representing ~2,600 university students from 40 institutions (i.e., the future workforce) will be briefly drawn upon. This data will, ultimately, provide additional insights for workplace optimisation (both within universities and organisations from various sectors).