Abstract
The development and dissemination of new technologies has brought forward a rise in flexible work arrangements, such as mobile work. In the literature, mobile work has mostly been discussed from a microergonomic perspective, considering detachment, stress, strain, and life-domain balance. However, the macroergonomic or institutional perspectives have often been neglected, although for occupational health and safety (OHS) management, as well as occupational health and safety systems, many questions remain unanswered. Therefore, in the present paper, information and communication technologies (ICT)-enabled mobile work is described taking into account institutional and regulative, as well as company-related, requirements. As the literature-based analysis was able to show, existing regulations cover many aspects of mobile work arrangements but also offer starting points for a more concrete protection of mobile workers. Furthermore, there are challenges regarding the enforcement of regulation. In this regard, new technologies might offer the chance to improve the interactions between institutional and company-related occupational health and safety systems. Additionally, 278 co-funded research projects in Germany were categorized, yielding 18 projects on new ways of work, of which another eleven projects addressed different aspects of mobile work. The project analysis revealed that current research focuses on tools and strategies for designing communication and cooperation. In conclusion, the examination of research trends can be used to generate new knowledge for better OHS management and effective OHS systems.
Highlights
New developments in sensor technology, robotics, and the rise of cyber-physical systems have been termed Industry 4.0
The analysis presented within the paper was able to show that, on an institutional level, the current legislative framework offers a foundation for occupational health and safety (OHS) in mobile work that is enforceable in principle
The current COVID-19 pandemic signifies a break of serious consequence, as the numbers in mobile work— telework and home office—skyrocketed
Summary
New developments in sensor technology, robotics, and the rise of cyber-physical systems have been termed Industry 4.0. For industry 4.0, the central technology is not the computer but the internet. Along with worldwide networking across company or country borders, the digitization of production is taking on a new quality that triggers and enables new forms of work organization [1]. For many employees, this means being able to work more detached from physical workplaces. About 70% of HR managers from almost 500 companies indicated in a survey that their “office workers” worked at least partially from home [3]. According to a survey initiated by Eurofound, 36.9% of respondents from
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