What does engineering have to do with employee health?

I spent my undergraduate years in industrial & systems engineering learning how to make things. I went to graduate school (in human factors engineering) to understand work’s impact on people – their physical and mental health, as well as their motivation and productivity.

When we design work to fit humans, people can make their best contributions.  They have greater capacity.  Our organizations have less turnover.  We can attract the best talent. We can innovate.

How we work is a foundational piece of public health, safety and equity. When we improve our work systems, we improve people’s lives and the lives of their families. See the Surgeon General’s priority for Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being.

Get a taste for the conversation with my free resources.

– Katherine Sanders, PhD

Work Systems Model

Systemic change means addressing all parts of the work system. The Work Systems Model (adapted from Smith & Sainfort, 1989) helps us see how people’s skills, abilities and needs are either supported or diminished by the systems they work within.

We need to design equitable work systems (jobs, technologies, physical and social environments and organizational structures and policies) so that people can make their best contributions and lead healthier lives.

Work is a foundational aspect of public health.  Designing healthy work improves employee health, the health of families and community health. Learn more with my free resources.