Well-being and Stress Prevention in Digital Work and Home Office for SMEs Erasmus Project

Project Title

Well-being and Stress Prevention in Digital Work and Home Office for SMEs

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition, transparency, certification; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

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 (company owner) are suffering growing stress-related conditions: “Work-related stress not only takes a high toll on employees’ well-being, but also adversely affects the overall performance of European companies.“ (László Andor, former European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, 2014).
Results of a former German research project of the applicant BF/M-Bayreuth, called PräDiTec (“prevention for safe and healthy working with digital technologies”), identified twelve digital stress-factors. Some key findings (e.g.) were that more than every eighth is affected by strong digital stress factors and in addition, employees who use many different technologies and media but not in regular use are even more affected by these stress factors. Thus, 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 (e.g. Ayyagari et al. 2011; Gimpel et al. 2018). This research is particularly important with regard to today’s CORONA (COVID-19) crisis. Everywhere in Europe drastic changes of the daily work routine can be observed. Anti-CORONA activities are leading to a compulsion to digitalize work even more. The consequence is an increased digitally caused stress. The research of the a.m. project also showed that there are meaningful measures that can be taken to reduce digital stress at work and this is the goal of the STRESS-LESS project. 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).
The target group of the project will be employees, managers and owners of SMEs. SMEs have few resources to deal with the problems of digitization and even more to deal with the consequences of the CORONA 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. In consequence of the above prevention and management of digital stress is becoming increasingly important.
The STRESS-LESS project will provide data from research and feedback from practical implementation of measures against digital stress to scientific/training organizations and policy makers (scientific project results: National Reports/ Surveys and the final STRESS-LESS Report). New training content will be developed about prevention and management of digital stress that can be applied in work-based settings or in “home-office” settings by SMEs, their staff, managers and trainers/mentors (STRESS-LESS Blended Learning Solution for Digital Stress and STRESS-LESS Training for Company Digital Stress Coaches). VET teachers, trainers and mentors in work-based settings will be empowered through the development of effective digital, open and innovative pedagogies (STRESS-LESS Web and Mobile App).
The knowledge in stress-research, health, well-being and education of all project partners will be aggregated and transferred to every partner country. The developed online modules will be evaluated by SMEs in every partner country by Online Surveys, face-to-face trainings, workshops and expert interviews (based on Grounded Theory) and all project results will be published in a scientific (STRESS-LESS) report.
Thus, the STRESS-LESS project follows the recommendations of the European policy cooperation (ET 2020 framework) and EU priorities for VET (2015-2020) and actively participates in the recommended European reference framework for key competences for lifelong learning with a focus on strengthening digital competences and personal, social and learning to learn competences of SME staff in continuous VET. The project contributes using innovative digital and open pedagogies in the EU by using web and mobile application to support the uptake of innovative approaches and digital technologies for teaching and learning and innovative practices in a digital era. Innovative digital training tools will be applied and developed, which will help to learn how to prevent and manage digital stress and develop the habits and discipline required for this (how to cope with digital stress). As a result of the STRESS-LESS project in the long run SME staff and other learners will be healthier, less stressed, easier to communicate with, suffer less from depression and burn-out. SMEs staff will take less sick leave and be more productive, efficient, effective and competitive.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 248150 Eur

Project Coordinator

Betriebswirtschaftliches Forschungszentrum für Fragen der mittelständischen Wirtschaft e. V. an der Universität Bayreuth & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Horizon Software Solutions Ltd
• HAFELEKAR UNTERNEHMENSBERATUNG SCHOBER GMBH
• Consultoría de Innovación Social
• HAPPINESS ACADEMY LTD.