How to combine QVT and ergonomics in business?

Implementing a QWL approach in a company involves many elements, including the ergonomics of the workstations. But what are their links and how can these two concepts be combined to sustainably improve working conditions and improve the performance of employees and also of the company? Discover our tips.

What is QWL (Quality of Life at Work)?

The QVT for Quality of Life at Work is a concept initiated in 2013, which brings together several definitions. Concretely, the QVT aims to improve working conditions , both in terms of the atmosphere, the framework in which the tasks are carried out and their content.

One of the QWL objectives is to aim to improve the working conditions of employees in order to increase at the same time the overall performance of companies.

The principles of QWL

The quality of life at work has several principles:

Content of the work : autonomy, variety of tasks, workload and resources, etc. ;

Atmosphere and social climate , relations between employees;

Relations with the hierarchy : listening, taking into account needs, etc. ;

Working environment : noise, temperature and office layout, etc. ;

Corporate social responsibility : taking into account societal and climatic issues, setting up initiatives, etc. ;

Balance between personal and professional life : teleworking, right to disconnect, adjustment of schedules, etc. ;

The consideration of QWL in the company brings many advantages. Increased competitiveness, employee performance, reduction in absenteeism and sick leave linked to MSDs or stress ... so many positive points for both the company and the employees.

Concrete (and successful!) Examples of implementation

Some companies have understood very well the challenges of investing in a better quality of life at work for their employees. This is for example the case of L'Oréal, which after carrying out an internal survey, implemented a series of actions to improve the personal and professional life balance of its employees: creation of a charter meetings which sets a framework and guidelines for the organizers, charter of emails with a right to disconnect , or even the donation of days off between colleagues to favor those who need it most.

At Deliveroo, the company which has experienced very strong growth has relied more on the well-being of its employees by setting up the “month of well-being”, which then continued for more than 2 months. Provision of a “Gymlib” pass for all employees, health workshops on the themes of osteopathy or meditation, sporting events organized once a month, etc. enabled employees to strengthen their cohesion and their commitment to the company.

How to combine QVT and ergonomics in the office?

The impact of poor ergonomics in the office

Ergonomics in the office represents one of the components that can be improved as part of the implementation of a QWL approach.

Indeed, as mentioned previously in our article on the issues of ergonomics in the office, poor working conditions are costly to the company, in particular because of a high rate of absenteeism, caused by stress or appearance of TMS for example.

How can QWL and ergonomics act in synergy?

Taking ergonomics into account in the company is encourage quality work , with less stressed, less tired and healthier employees. Ergonomics is above all another look at human work, considering human actions as a resource that develops for protect workers' health And on the other hand guarantee performance (productive, economic, financial, technical, social….) of individuals, groups and the company. It can therefore be perfectly integrated into a logic of improving the quality of life at work in a global way!

Taking into account ergonomics in the company can be done at several levels:

At the physical and physiological level : by analyzing how the tasks are carried out in practice and whether they are in line with the physical and physiological characteristics of the employees;

In terms of the working environment and at the organizational level: interactions between employees, decision-making methods, employee participation.

How to put in place concrete solutions?

A study conducted in December 2019 by the Spinoza factory highlighted the links between ergonomics and QWL , in a context of significant digital transformation, in particular with the rise of teleworking and the search for meaning.

With the current health crisis, the layout of workspaces both in the company and at home is indeed becoming an increasingly important subject.

The study thus shows that the layout of workspaces is becoming a essential QVT lever , beyond the simple consideration of architecture or design. According to the results of the survey, 94% of employees assert that “workspaces have an impact on their performance”, and that 93% of millennials “No longer want a classic office”.

According to the Fabrique, the optimal workspace must become a functional space, flexible à la carte , which employees can design themselves to meet their needs. These so-called “positive” workspaces must follow several principles, including the welcoming of the employee, the working environment, the development of positive human links or the provision of a space of openness to the world and personal life. The space should be at an ideal temperature of 22 °, containing ergonomic materials , and they must become hybrids, including the addition of plants to promote creativity and concentration.

For which' ergonomic approach to working conditions be efficient and optimal, it must have meaning for employees. As for the establishment of a QVT approach Overall, gathering the needs of employees beforehand is an essential prerequisite before defining any strategy. The company's commitment must also be strong, and be pursued to the end with the implementation of initiatives corresponding to what employees have indicated in the surveys that will be carried out internally. The definition of a Allocated budget will thus be essential.

Combine QVT and ergonomics therefore allows you to offer your employees a more motivating, more serene working environment and above all adapted to their needs.