Workplace Research Monthly

Organisational change is linked to psychosocial risk and poorer mental health

Change is a constant in modern workplaces. But how does it affect workers’ wellbeing?

A cross-sectional study of German workers investigated the links between organisational change, psychosocial risk and mental health.

Over the 12 year study period, most workers said they experienced organisational change, such as a restructure, downsizing, changed services or new software.

Such change was associated with an increase in psychosocial risks, like work interruptions and strong deadline or performance pressure. In turn, workers also reported poorer mental health.

The study suggests that as psychosocial risks increase, transformation can negatively affect workers’ mental health. When planning change, organisations should accompany this with work health and safety measures.

Read more