Abstract:

This paper aims to provide a sample proposal for examining the factors of the mental and physical workload, work environment, and their mutual impact on sustainable working conditions. The designed study concerns the relationship between the subjective and objective factors affecting employees' performance, job satisfaction, and decision making processes of the management. The research is designed in collaboration between the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology and the industrial plants in Slovakia.

It consists of three main parts:
1) Combined questionnaire of subjective mental workload (based on Meister´s questionnaire), and adjusted Nordic questionnaire (measuring physical workload).
2) Interview with the operating managers or chief operators (risk factors, absenteeism, employee turnover, specific objective data on each job position)
3) Observation of the specific work environment conditions (postures, space for work/breaks, range of movement, presence/absence of live plants, etc.).

Manufacturing operations, technological development, or organizational changes are considered sustainable if they do not damage the ecosystem and if they help ensure good health and well-being for all the employees. The results of this kind of research can confirm the increasing importance of keeping the work environment, mental and physical workload, and management decisions in synergy to reach the sustainable development of organizations.

Keywords:

Workload, workplace, working conditions, sustainable development.