Regulating the psychosocial issues in changing work situations

Abstract

In 1978 the authority for the protection of workers was greatly reformed and received the new title The Swedish Work Environment Act. The Act was expanded to include several paragraphs concerning the psychological aspects of the work environment. In addition to this the term "employee protection issues" was changed to "work environment issues". The most important paragraph states that "work shall be adapted to the mental and physical capabilities of the employee". It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that this is carried out. Two years later the pamphlet "social and psychological aspects in the work environment" was published. However the pamphlet was advisory and was not part of any new legislation, although it is worth adding that it has been the best selling of all the publications of the Work Environment Authority. Included in it are issues such as: work organisation with possibility to influence, possibility to survey the contributions to the finished product, variations in work methods, influence on the amount of work and when it is to be carried out, and opportunity for social contact. Psychosocial work environment problems which have been on the increase in recent years can be traced back to economic cutbacks, reorganisation programs and other employment reforms which have dominated the job market during the 90's. The introduction of computers into the work place has also caused great changes.