Psychosocial work environment research on the situation in Lithuanian companies

Abstract

Work Environment Assessment of psychosocial factors in practice quite a complex operation that requires specialized knowledge and expertise. The difficulty arises because many of the concepts of psychosocial factors and uncertainties of these factors depend on the employee’s subjective perception of the environment. Identification of these factors is necessary in order to keep workers mental health and to increase organizations economic efficiency. For psychosocial risk factors assessment are using a variety of questionnaires, for example, evaluation of stress at work questionnaire, the Copenhagen questionnaire, burnout syndrome questionnaire, the questionnaire of motivation at work, and others. Their individual goals are slightly different, but at the same time is the same – to set the stress level in the work environment. Although such research is carried out in the world long enough, Lithuania, this practice is taking its first steps. This work deals with the investigation, which took place in the presence of 25 Lithuanian companies 331 respondents. Subjects were presented four questionnaires, which revealed the existence of workplace psychosocial risk factors. It appears that the most stressful factor is the employee’s age and experience. This study revelled, that woman more than men suffer stress at work, as workers without higher education are more exposed to stress. It was also noted that the examination of the different questionnaires revealed the same problems that have the greatest impact on workers’ mental well-being - the pace of work, or a rush job, and employee opinion significance or influence at work. Observed and reported the problem, namely the emotional stress resulting from fatigue. The burnout syndrome menace 32.5 % of employees, 3.2 % – already have burnout syndrome. Just the quarter of respondents do not need worry about burnout syndrome, 35.1 % – should pay attention to mental health. It also shows the reasons respondent’s most stimulating work with. It was found that most surveyed firms in Lithuania to motivate employees to their work carried out by the content, only then - the financial motivation and success at work. The career perspectives are the weakest motivator in the surveyed companies.