O-301 Towards a Tailored Methodological Proposal for Assessing and Managing the Psychosocial Risks of Remote Work

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in remote work, which may have both benefits and challenges. Identifying the emerging psychosocial risks associated with remote work is essential to develop and provide organizations with appropriate and up-to-date assessment and management tools for improving working conditions. Methods We involved a large organization (>60,000 workers) which undertook the INAIL’s methodology for the assessment and management of work-related stress risk. Two assessment phases were conducted: 1) preliminary, aimed to collect objective data through a structured Checklist, 2) and in-depth, designed to investigate a range of traditional and emerging psychosocial risks (e.g., isolation, technology intrusion) through a self-report questionnaire. Data on burnout, work engagement and job satisfaction were also collected. Results The psychometric properties of the customized tools, especially the new dimensions designed to pinpoint specific risks associated with remote work, are presented. Findings show good quality of the new measures and interesting relationships between the new and standard measures included in the risk assessment. Moreover, the emerging psychosocial risks have effects on well-being above and beyond traditional risk factors. A novel scoring system was developed that incorporates the tailored aspects to adjust the overall risk level typically derived from the standard methodology. Discussion This study provides valuable insights into the psychosocial risks associated with remote work. These insights can be used by organizations to develop and implement effective strategies for mitigating psychosocial risks and improving employee well-being. Conclusions As output of this study a full tailored methodological proposal will be offered to organizations using remote work.