IT, gender and the psychological working environment in administrative jobs

Approximately 20% of Danish wage earners are employed in administrative jobs, and two-thirds of these are women. Administrative work is typically based on using IT systems. Nevertheless, we know very little about the effects of using IT systems on the psychological working environment. This research project further explores this area. The purpose of the project is to provide application-oriented knowledge about the psychological working environment in administrative jobs, focusing on the importance of IT systems. This knowledge enables improvements the application of IT systems and therefore improvements in the psychological working environment. Since primarily women are employed in administrative jobs, women, IT and the psychological working environment are central themes in this research project. The report is based on 62 interviews with managers and employees from four different workplaces: two banks in the private sector and two municipal job centres. The project is a collaboration between the Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change/Centre for Working Environment and Working Life, Roskilde University and the Danish National Centre for Social Research (SFI). The study was funded by the Danish Working Environment Research Fund.