Good work design for all: Multiple pathways to making a difference

Abstract

© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis.

In the light of mental health issues amongst the workforce, as well as future of work challenges ahead, it is more important than ever to create well-designed work. In this article, as researchers and practitioners, we share our approaches to influencing work design practice and policy. We draw on research on the antecedents of work design to identify multiple pathways for achieving better quality work designs. We describe some practical materials and models that provide a foundation for our approach. We then discuss how we have sought to achieve impact at the individual level, the organizational level, and, increasingly, across multiple organizations, industries, and even the national level. Although we have often experienced challenges and setbacks in our quest to affect practice, we nevertheless remain optimistic for the future. We hope our article encourages expanded attention to translating and using research to make an “evidence-based difference” in work design for all workers.