Hybrid working and the rival of artificial intelligence in the work place may become the norm for many employees, at a time when there is prior evidence of decreasing mental wellbeing among the workforce. Researchers are working with KPMG to reimagine the world of work in this context of significant change.
The Bennett School is part of a partnership between the University of Cambridge and KPMG on the ‘Future of Work’, aiming to examine the big issues affecting the modern workforce and offer practical, research-backed solutions to employers.
The strategic partnership with KPMG is exploring how to support employees’ mental wellbeing and its role in shaping outcomes for individuals and organisations. The research project is led by Professor Gordon Harold at the Faculty of Education, with Professor Diane Coyle and Dr Nina Jorden at the Bennett School of Public Policy, and Professor Qingyuan Zhao at The Statistical Laboratory.
As part of this work, Diane Coyle and Nina Jorden are focusing on mental wellbeing at work and productivity. In a knowledge economy, employees’ mental states will be inevitably linked to their ability to thrive and perform at work. The role of hybrid work in affecting both wellbeing and productivity for different types of employees is debated. As employers roll out the use of AI, it is likely to interact with outcomes for individuals.
There is already evidence showing an association between individual wellbeing and productivity but the causal links and intervention points are not well established, especially in the context of hybrid work. Of interest are the differences across certain business types, countries, interaction in the workplace and with the wider community that impact wellbeing and productivity.
The project is exploring the channels linking wellbeing and productivity and the variations across different working scenarios. They will look also at the impact of interventions, whether at an individual level or at the organisational level. The findings will have policy implications for local and national governments, as well as individual employers.
