Digital Wellbeing in the Workplace

<< Background >>As result of the COVID-19 pandemic many employees have adopted new methods of working remotely and from home. But it has also challenged their physical and mental health at work. While digital technology brings numerous benefits to our working life, with huge increases in productivity, competitiveness and innovation. On the other hand, digital overload is an increasing problem: with risks of unrestricted use of technology in the workplace, including the negative effects of multitasking and the “always on” culture on individuals’ professional performance and their mental health. Moreover, given the rapid pace of change, the vast majority of managers have had to navigate this transition without prior training. SMEs are still slow to respond. For partners, the project responds to our common need to introduce new training on digital wellbeing management for employees in SMEs. As SME’s and business VET providers, not only are partners in need of this skills upgrade themselves, but the project will also help maintain and grow their client base.For SME managers, Digi WorkWell responds to their challenge of needing the knowledge and skills to manage the accelerated digitisation of work life and the impact this has on employee wellbeing.<< Objectives >>The overall objective of the project was to design, develop and implement a new approach to train SME managers and bussinessadvisors, entrepreneurship teachers across Europe in digital wellbeing and equip in new knowledge.The main goal was to improve the digital competences, while also boosting the capacity of their organisation to manage digital working life transition and prevent fails in output from their workforce.By implementing the above we were able to contribute to important European priorities such as adaptation VET to labour market needs by creation curriculum and content that balances digital productivity and wider access to training. We aimed to make an important contribution to the way in which VET, and the wider business world are approaching the Digital Transformation.<< Implementation >>The project involved three key educational resources (results), as well as the horizontal activities required for successful project execution: management, impact evaluation, promotion and sustainability.The following results were implemented: R1: The Business Case for Employee Digital Wellbeing later named Digi WorkWell Guide.This guide summarises the current understanding of digital wellbeing, teleworking, its benefits and risks, and how these benefits can be maximised and risks mitigated. It proposes a number of recommendations to help achieve this and is illustrated with case studies presenting examples of some of the main issues affecting digital workplace wellbeing and of current good practice.R2: Digital Wellbeing Check-up - the second major activity, a self-assessment tool and report. The tool is guided by the EU’s Digital Competence Framework (DigComp) and UK JISC framework as we believe they offer a comprehensive description of the knowledge, skills and attitudes that managers need to learn in order to effectively manage digital wellbeing in the workplace.R3: Digital Wellbeing Training Programme, a set of resources that are targeted for SME managers and Business Advisors, equipping them with the best knowledge, tools and examples of how they can improve the digital wellbeing and prevent any decline in workforce due to digital overload.<< Results >>The main goal of our project was to create training resources that will be used by SME's VETs, advisors in business to improve their competences in the field of digital wellbeing. Therefore the project focuses on 3 new training above mentioned resources: 1. The Business Case for Employee Digital Wellbeing later named Digi WorkWell Guide, 2. Digital Wellbeing Check-up and 3. Digital Wellbeing Training Programme. All of them tested among project stakeholders and available as free source for further download.During the project, the following outcomes have been achieved:R1: Out of 90 stakeholders assumed to use/test the result, 92 have been achieved.User testing report available.After launching the material online so far there have been 1241 downloads out of 600 planned (https://digiworkwell.eu/digi-workwell-business-case/R2: Digital Wellbeing Check-up - the second major activity, a self-assessment tool and reportThe tool has been tested with 65 business advisors (42 planned) that help to further test with 99 SME representatives (120 planned). The user testing report can be found as attachment illustrating the activity. Currently further 769 have downloaded the tool as opposed to the initial assumption of 300. The tool is to be fund here :https://thevisionworks.brilliantassessments.com/Home/Index/?responseCode=hCGH9fqn6y5Jvyd6IacYipL0uSqsB4Jkq5mcMli7MzyXi4fJAuBOM4osXspL0uSYIclUljrA9NoJk673gMZRkCegNRpL0uSMAjg3NzM5OAeQu0aLseQu0aLs3. Digital Wellbeing Training Programme.The training programme tool have been tested among business advisors with 42 tested out of 24 planned and with SME managers an representatives reaching the number of 70 out of 72 assumed.Altogether the training programme have been tested among 116 participants our 96 planned. there was Further 240 individuals, mostly business advisors but also stakeholders and SME managers, were to download and use all or part of the OERs during the project. The actual number of downloads in all partner languages currently shows an impressive: 4 408 downloads. The user testing report is available for viewing.The training course available in all partner languages is accessible via the following link: https://digiworkwell.eu/digi-workwell-training-programme-en/All the project stakeholders have increased their knowledge of digital wellbeing and improve their entrepreneurial competences needed to lead change in this field. As a result of the above, the project made a significant contribution to updating the provision of VET in the business sector so as to better reflect the real life needs of small businesses and the people that work in them. Partners and VET organizations have been given a more relevant, high quality training products that are free to use - SME general managers and HR managers will develop skills needed for 21st management, helping them thrive in the post-pandemic context and navigate the challenges of increased digitalization. Employees benefited from improved working conditions, with effective management and a work culture that enables mental and physical wellbeing. The project will also generate useful results for partners: they will use the project to develop the digital wellbeing skills of their own staff in both pedagogic terms and in a practical way.