SwitchOff: supporting worker's wellbeing during remote work

"<< Background >>The SwitchOff project helped companies, VET trainers & remote workers address ""permanent connectivity"" by promoting a culture where workers can disconnect from work. It aimed to assist companies in adjusting policies & practices, with managers supporting workers' right to disconnect and encouraging recovery from work. In-company VET trainers were educated on the risks of staying connected & how to use digital technologies effectively to help workers disconnect through the Training Programme for HR Professionals & Managers (NEED 1).The SwitchOff Toolkit empowered remote workers to disconnect during non-working hours, improving their recovery process at the end of the day (NEED 2). It also helped HR professionals & managers implement policies that support workers' right to disconnect.Additionally, the project offered recommendations for new legal & organizational policies on the right to disconnect at governmental and EU levels (NEED 3), encouraging further action to secure workers' right to disconnect.All target groups had access to a multilingual eLearning platform, which included a self-evaluation tool for remote workers to assess their difficulty in disconnecting & received tips on psychological detachment from work.<< Objectives >>The SwitchOff project focused on assisting remote workers & managers on how to effectively use ICTs & disconnect from work, during non-work hours. Partners created a set of activities, including Toolkit, training programme, eLearning platform (with a self-evaluation tool) with rich material & practices on how to best recover from work. It supported all the selected priorities (P) to achieve general OBJs through which:-Raised awareness of managers, HR professionals & remote workers on the importance of facilitating recovery from work & switch off (P2).-Enhanced remote workers & managers’ ability to disconnect from work during non-work hours by providing them with the appropriate knowledge, tools & resources (P1-3)-Using elaborated OERs prevented remote workers from feeling ‘used-up’ at the end of their working day & reduced outcomes relating to insufficient recovery (e.g. burnout) (P1-3).-Raised capacity of HR practitioners & managers to implement policies, practices & procedures & support their worker’s right to refrain from engaging in work-related activities, during non-work hours (P1-3).-Innovative quality learning material for HR practitioners & managers were developed to support remote worker’s recovery process (1-3).<< Implementation >>The SwitchOff project established the set activities to implement delivery of elaborated results.-Development of toolkit, addressing the effective use of digital technologies & other practices for fostering employees’ ability to disconnect from work during non-working hours, was supported by desk research involving FG & questionnaire to remote workers & HR professionals from all partner countries.-Implementation of Training Programme for HR managers was supported by comprehensive guidelines & templates, organisation of the Train-the-trainers Workshop & piloting to validate its components & finalise all material.-Elaboration of eLearning platform content, focusing on best practices, policies & procedures for managers & HR professionals to support their worker’s effort to disconnect from work at the end of their working day, as well as self-evaluation tool was reached through evaluation involving TGs representatives & partnership itself.Partners conducted multiple promotional activities & 6 MEs to further disseminate project results. Resources encountered were easily & freely accessible to all those interested & their adaptability contributed to proper exploitation & sustainability beyond the project’s life cycle.<< Results >>The main SwitchOff results and outcomes were:Material:- Toolkit with a collection of guidelines, actions, steps & best practices on how remote workers & organisations can facilitate the right to disconnect after dedicated working hours.- Training programme for HR professionals, VET trainers on workers’ right to disconnect from work, with best practices, policies & procedures through which managers & HR professionals could support their worker’s right & effort to disconnect, as well as on how to use digital technologies effectively (e.g. responsible use of email).- E-learning platform & self-evaluation tools for remote workers & managers including digital learning resources, such as toolkit, training material, worksheets &other OERs. - Dissemination & exploitation material: 6 newsletters, brochure, project website & social media pages.Available in 6 languages (ENG, PL, Pt, IT, ES & GR).Non-material:● General awareness of the right to disconnect & negative effects of constant connection● Active involvement of remote workers & VET trainers at all levels of the project● Contribution to the suggestions of new legal & organisational policies relating to the right to disconnect at governmental & EU level."