WORK CONTENT AND SATISFACTION BEFORE AND AFTER A REORGANIZATION OF DATA-ENTRY WORK

The aim of the study was to analyse the psychosocial and physical effe cts of a reorganisation of data entry work at a data processing unit w ith 153 employees. The reorganisation was planned to redistribute the repetitive work and improve health and satisfaction as well as efficie ncy. Methods used were questionnaires and, for a sub-group of 22 parti cipants, interviews, diaries and video recordings. During the one-and- a-half-year study period the data processing unit was closed down and the employees transferred to units with more varied tasks. The reorgan isation gave opportunities to improve working conditions. The results of this study show that important improvements were achieved. The majo rity of the 22 participants got less data entry work and the changes p ermitted a better work-load distribution. However, the work content af ter the reorganisation still did not provide satisfactory mental varia tion for most of the subjects, and the changes did not seem to affect health complaints. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.