Affiliations: Centre interdisciplinaire pour l'étude de la
biologie, la santé, la société et l'environnement
(CINBIOSE), Université du Québec à Montréal,
Montreal, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Jessica Riel, University of Quebec
in Montreal, CINBIOSE (SB-1983), C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal,
Quebec, Canada H3C 3P8. Tel.: +1 514 987 3000 6890#; Fax: +1 514 987 6183;
E-mail: riel.jessica@gmail.com
Abstract: Québec teachers have been identified as having a high level
of stress and having difficulties with work-family balancing (WFB). An analysis
of their work activity was done to identify task elements that could be
changed. Participants: Work of 15 teachers was observed and 20 other teachers
were interviewed. Methods: Ergonomic analysis, a mixed method that combines
qualitative analysis with some quantitative data: 87 hours' observation; 15
interviews. Environmental parameters were recorded in 8 classrooms and in two
faculty workrooms. Working postures were recorded. Results: Teachers were subject to numerous demands in an often
inadequate environment. A new management practice required teachers to spend
300 min/week outside class but in school, where their work could be monitored.
The timed and scheduled tasks could not be done in the rooms provided due to
overcrowding, inadequate physical environment, and lack of access to computers
and telephones. Time at home decreased but work done at home did not. Conclusions: The physical environment of teaching impacts teaching
activity. Work organization that treats a complex, results-oriented task as if
it could be well represented by the number of supervised minutes spent on it
can be problematic. WFB should be considered when work is re-organized.
Keywords: Work-family conflict, job control, strategies, ergonomics, work analysis
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2011-1268
Journal: Work, vol. 40, no. Supplement 1, pp. 59-70, 2011
