This report was about employer branding focusing on health promotion and a good psychosocial work environment at company A. The company and the company’s participants from the interviews are anonymous. The purpose in this report was to see how employees and HR managers at company A perceive the psychosocial work environment, the most important strategies for health promotion and the psychosocial work environment and lastly if there were any solutions to possible challenges? The material came from interviews by employees and HR in other words it was qualitative research. The material resulted in common themes of self-leadership, areas of development, organizational culture,benefits, and network of colleagues. In conclusion all employees thrive and are perceived to be in good health at company A due to good health benefits even if the tempo can be high sometimes. There were some areas that needed improvement such as: increased support from managers to employees, employees wanting to be more involved in decisions, access to further development, and the consequences of working too much from home and self-leadership resulting in decreasing social support, knowledge sharing and as well company culture.

L’objectif principal de ce mémoire est d’approfondir les connaissances à propos de l’impact des stresseurs organisationnels sur la concentration du cortisol salivaire. Plus précisément, nous étudierons la contribution des modèles demande-contrôle de Karasek (1979) et demande-contrôle-soutien de Karasek et Theorell (1990) à la variation du cortisol salivaire chez les individus. Les associations entre les composantes principales de chacun des modèles (demandes psychologiques, latitude décisionnelle et soutien social), mais également les effets d’interaction inclus dans ces modèles, c’est-à-dire de l’effet modérateur de la latitude décisionnelle et du soutien social, seront étudiés. L’axe HPS a été associé aux symptômes de la santé mentale (Abelson et al., 2007; Havermans et al., 2011; Vreeburg et al., 2009b, 2010, 2013; Staufenbiel, 2013) ainsi qu’aux stresseurs en milieu de travail (Chida et Steptoe, 2009). À l’heure actuelle, le cortisol salivaire serait un indicateur de l’axe hypothalamo-pituito-surrénalien (HPS) le plus prometteur pour mesurer la réponse physiologique face à un événement stressant ou à un stress chronique (Maïna et al., 2009). Les données proviennent de l’étude SALVEO, menée par l’Équipe de recherche sur le travail et la santé mentale de l’Université de Montréal. Les résultats des analyses multiniveaux ne soutiennent pas l’implication du modèle demande-contrôle-soutien sur la concentration de cortisol. En effet, elles ne permettent pas de conclure que les effets, autant principaux que d’interaction, du modèle demande-contrôle-soutien expliquent la variation dans les concentrations de cortisol. La consommation de tabac est significativement reliée à la concentration de cortisol salivaire et doit être prise en considération dans les études futures. Par conséquent, ces résultats suggèrent que d’autres recherches sont nécessaires pour comprendre comment les stresseurs du travail s’incorporent à l’individu au niveau physiologique. Des connaissances approfondies de ces associations permettraient de mieux comprendre les associations entre le stress à long terme et les effets sur la santé, c’est-à-dire, comment les tensions au travail affectent la santé mentale à long terme (Karhula et al., 2015). / The main objective of this master thesis is to increase the knowledge about the impact of organisational factors on salivary cortisol concentrations. Especially, the models demand-control (Karasek, 1979) and demand-control-support (Karasek and Theorell, 1990) will be studied in relationship to the salivary cortisol. The objectives of this study are to investigate the associations between the main components of each model (psychological demands, decision latitude and social support), but also patterns of interaction effects, i.e. the effect moderator of decision latitude and social support. It has been shown that the HPA axis would be linked to symptoms of mental health (Abelson et al., 2007; Havermans et al. 2011; Vreeburg et al. 2009b, 2010, 2013; Staufenbiel, 2013) as well as stressors in the workplace (Chida and Steptoe, 2009). Currently, salivary cortisol, an indicator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) or the axis of stress management, would be the most promising for measuring the physiological response to a stressful event or chronic stress (Maïna et al. 2009). The data results come from the SALVEO surveys led by the research team on work and mental health of University of Montreal (ERTSM). Results of multilevel analyses do not support the involvement of the demand - control - support model to changes in cortisol concentration. Indeed, they do not suggest that the main effects as much as the interaction effects of the demand-control-support model, explain the variation in cortisol levels. Tobacco consumption is significantly related to salivary cortisol concentration and must be taken into account in previous studies. Therefore, these results suggest that further research is needed to understand how the occupational stressors are incorporated into the individual at the physiological level. Depth knowledge of these associations would help to understand the associations between long-term stress and health effects or how job strain affects long-term mental health (Karhula et al. 2015).

<p>Background: Because of the high unhealthy rates among women in the com-mune a project to reduce it have begun. For this reason we have been given the mission from the commune of Sotenäs to study the character of these women's health. Objective: To study the health among permanent employed women in the commune of Sotenäs. Method: Quantitative method. The data have been collected through question-naire survey. The purpose of choosing this method was to be able to see connec-tions between various variables. Result: A large number of women who do not have time to carry out their duties during ordinary working hours have experienced that they are tense and anxious, which means that this mental demand may have affected women's health. The study reveals that many of the women who have not received enough informa-tion from their employer to perform their duties have experienced that they are worn out. The majority of women who lacked in development opportunities at work felt tense. These results imply that small decision latitudes could be one of the explanations of a lower level of health among women. The study identified a number of potential explanations for the sick leave in the commune, as the women felt tense and anxious. Adequate emotional support from friends and family, and a satisfactory everyday social life was related to a low degree of anxiety. A good distribution of practical domestic duties at home was a factor related to a low degree of tension among the permanent employed women in the commune of Sotenäs.</p> / <p>Bakgrund: På grund av det höga ohälsotalet bland kvinnorna i Sotenäs kom-mun har ett arbete med att reducera detta påbörjats. Vi fick därför i uppdrag av Sotenäs kommun att undersöka karaktären på dessa kvinnors hälsa.</p><p>Syfte: Att kartlägga hälsan bland tillsvidareanställda kvinnor i Sotenäs kommun och hur den påverkas av psykosociala faktorer i arbets- och privatliv.</p><p>Metod: Kvantitativ metod. Datainsamlingstekniken som tillämpades var enkät. Denna valdes för att kunna genomföra sambandsanalyser mellan olika faktorer.</p><p>Resultat: Ett stort antal kvinnor som inte hinner utföra sina arbetsuppgifter un-der ordinarie arbetstid uppgav att de är spända och utslitna, vilket innebär att detta psykiska krav kan ha påverkat kvinnornas hälsa. I undersökningen fram-kom vidare att många av kvinnorna som inte mottagit tillräckligt med informa-tion från sin arbetsgivare för att utföra sina arbetsuppgifter att de kände sig ut-slitna. Majoriteten av kvinnorna med bristande utvecklingsmöjligheter i arbetet kände sig spända. Dessa resultat antyder att ett litet beslutsutrymme kan vara en av förklaringarna till en lägre grad av hälsa bland kvinnorna. I undersökningen framkom några möjliga förklaringar till sjukskrivningarna i kommunen, såsom att kvinnorna kände sig spända och utslitna. Ett tillfredsställande emotionellt stöd från vänner och familj, samt ett tillfredsställande vardagligt socialt liv kun-de relateras till en låg grad av oro. En god fördelning av praktiska vardagssyss-lor i hemmet var faktorer, vilka kunde relateras till en låg grad anspänning bland de tillsvidareanställda kvinnorna i Sotenäs kommun.</p>

Although musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and other health complaints are an occupational problem for ambulance personnel, there is a lack of knowledge regarding work-related factors associated with MSDs and other health complaints. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the relationships between occupational demands, individual characteristics and health-related outcomes among ambulance personnel. A random sample of 234 female and 953 male ambulance personnel participated in a national questionnaire survey on work-related factors, and musculoskeletal and other health complaints. Physical demands was associated with activity limitation due to neck-shoulder and low-back complaints among the female personnel. Among the male personnel, physical demands was associated with low-back complaints and activity limitation due to low-back complaints. Psychological demands was significantly associated with neck-shoulder complaints, sleeping problems, headache and stomach symptoms among both female and male ambulance personnel. Worry about work conditions was associated with musculoskeletal disorders and sleeping problems, headache and stomach symptoms. A local sample of 26 ambulance personnel was followed during a 24-hour work shift and for the next two work-free days. Subjective stress- and energy levels, and cortisol levels were measured at regular intervals, and heart rate was registered continuously by electrocardiogram (ECG). Autonomic reactivity to standardized tests before (pre-work) and at the end of the work shift (post-work) was also investigated. For the whole group, baseline values of heart rate were higher pre-work than post-work, but autonomic reactivity did not differ. Increased reactivity to the mental test, modest deviation in heart rate variability (HRV) pattern during the late night hours at work and higher morning cortisol values during work than during leisure time were observed in personnel with many health complaints, but not among their co-workers without or with few complaints. Ambulance personnel with many health complaints also reported higher psychological demands and tended to be more worried about work conditions. Heart rate (HR), lactate level (LL) and perceived exertion (RPE) were investigated in 17 female and 48 male ambulance personnel during a simulated standardized work task “carry a loaded stretcher”. The ambulance personnel had to carry the loaded stretcher (920 N) up and down three flights of stairs twice. The high physiological strain (HR, LL, RPE) for the male, and near or at maximal strain for the female ambulance personnel, implied the importance to identify what kind of physical capacity is most important for ambulance personnel. Therefore, the explained variance of developed fatigue by tests of cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular strength and endurance, and coordination was investigated. The results showed that VO2max and isometric back endurance were important predictors for development of fatigue when carrying a loaded stretcher. The influence of body size on the relationships between maximal strength and functional performance was investigated in a methodological study. The results confirm that the assessment of physical performance could be confounded by the body weight. Therefore, the models for explaining development of fatigue when carrying the loaded stretcher were adjusted for height and weight. Including height in the models significantly increased the explained variance of accumulated lactate among female, but not among male personnel. Lactate levels were higher among short compared to tall female personnel. Weight had no effect on any of the models. In conclusion, the national survey showed that self-reported physical demands was a risk factor of having MSDs, and that self-reported psychological demands and worry about work were important risk factors of having MSDs and other health complaints. Stress monitoring of ambulance personnel during work and leisure time showed that physiological and subjective stress markers did not show any differences between the 24-hour ambulance work shift and leisure time afterwards. However, ambulance personnel with many health complaints had certain physiological changes during the work shift in comparison with the next two work-free days. The physiological and subjective responses during carrying a loaded stretcher, especially among the female ambulance personnel, showed that female and male ambulance personnel could be exposed to internal exposures at different levels when performing the same work task. A better understanding of the relationships between occupational demands and health-related outcomes require further studies on age- and gender matched groups in long-term perspective studies.

Background: Because of the high unhealthy rates among women in the com-mune a project to reduce it have begun. For this reason we have been given the mission from the commune of Sotenäs to study the character of these women's health. Objective: To study the health among permanent employed women in the commune of Sotenäs. Method: Quantitative method. The data have been collected through question-naire survey. The purpose of choosing this method was to be able to see connec-tions between various variables. Result: A large number of women who do not have time to carry out their duties during ordinary working hours have experienced that they are tense and anxious, which means that this mental demand may have affected women's health. The study reveals that many of the women who have not received enough informa-tion from their employer to perform their duties have experienced that they are worn out. The majority of women who lacked in development opportunities at work felt tense. These results imply that small decision latitudes could be one of the explanations of a lower level of health among women. The study identified a number of potential explanations for the sick leave in the commune, as the women felt tense and anxious. Adequate emotional support from friends and family, and a satisfactory everyday social life was related to a low degree of anxiety. A good distribution of practical domestic duties at home was a factor related to a low degree of tension among the permanent employed women in the commune of Sotenäs. / Bakgrund: På grund av det höga ohälsotalet bland kvinnorna i Sotenäs kom-mun har ett arbete med att reducera detta påbörjats. Vi fick därför i uppdrag av Sotenäs kommun att undersöka karaktären på dessa kvinnors hälsa. Syfte: Att kartlägga hälsan bland tillsvidareanställda kvinnor i Sotenäs kommun och hur den påverkas av psykosociala faktorer i arbets- och privatliv. Metod: Kvantitativ metod. Datainsamlingstekniken som tillämpades var enkät. Denna valdes för att kunna genomföra sambandsanalyser mellan olika faktorer. Resultat: Ett stort antal kvinnor som inte hinner utföra sina arbetsuppgifter un-der ordinarie arbetstid uppgav att de är spända och utslitna, vilket innebär att detta psykiska krav kan ha påverkat kvinnornas hälsa. I undersökningen fram-kom vidare att många av kvinnorna som inte mottagit tillräckligt med informa-tion från sin arbetsgivare för att utföra sina arbetsuppgifter att de kände sig ut-slitna. Majoriteten av kvinnorna med bristande utvecklingsmöjligheter i arbetet kände sig spända. Dessa resultat antyder att ett litet beslutsutrymme kan vara en av förklaringarna till en lägre grad av hälsa bland kvinnorna. I undersökningen framkom några möjliga förklaringar till sjukskrivningarna i kommunen, såsom att kvinnorna kände sig spända och utslitna. Ett tillfredsställande emotionellt stöd från vänner och familj, samt ett tillfredsställande vardagligt socialt liv kun-de relateras till en låg grad av oro. En god fördelning av praktiska vardagssyss-lor i hemmet var faktorer, vilka kunde relateras till en låg grad anspänning bland de tillsvidareanställda kvinnorna i Sotenäs kommun.

Thesis in project management, D-level by Chris Baldebo &amp; Anders Persson spring semester2011. Tutor: Lennart Ljung. “Project Manager's Psychosocial Work Environment in thePublic Sector – A Qualitative Study in the Värmland County Council”. The purpose of this study is to examine how project managers in the public sector perceivetheir psychosocial work environment in a public organization. Therefore we have formulateda hypothesis based on the assumption that there exist differences in how project managersperceive their psychosocial work environment, depending on whether they work in public orprivate sector.Based on the objective, one research question has been formulated: How do projectmanagers active in the Pegasus program experience their psychosocial work environment? Tobe able to say something characteristic about the project managers psychosocial workenvironment our approach has been to interview five project managers. Further in ouroperationalization and analysis we have used Karasek/Johnsons demand/control/supportmodel with amplifications in form of project specific factors taken from theory about projectmanagement.From the analysis of the empirical data, we conclude that the project managers who areactive in the Pegasus program in the Värmland county council experience their psychosocialwork environment in several ways. In this study that means that several of the respondentsexperience high levels of stress in the psychosocial work environment while the degree ofself-monitoring and social support to the project manager’s work varies between therespondents. We can also see that several of the project managers feel that their psychosocialwork environment is stimulating while others experience it mainly as stressing. Some of theproject managers could therefore more than others, eventually suffer from psychosomaticdisorders as long as their work demands mostly not are compensated by a higher degree ofself-monitoring. / Examensarbete i projektledning, D-uppsats av Chris Baldebo &amp; Anders Persson vårterminen2011. Handledare: Lennart Ljung. ”Projektledares psykosociala arbetsmiljö inom offentligverksamhet – En kvalitativ studie i Värmlands landsting”. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur projektledare verksamma inom offentligverksamhet upplever sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö. Utifrån detta har vi formulerat en hypotessom bygger på antagandet att det finns skillnader i hur projektledare upplever sinpsykosociala arbetsmiljö beroende på om de arbetar inom offentlig eller privat sektor.Utifrån syftet har en preciserad frågeställning formulerats: Hur upplever projektledareverksamma inom Pegasusprogrammet i Värmlands landsting sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö?För att kunna säga något karakteristiskt om detta har vår ansats varit att intervjua femprojektledare. Vidare i vår operationalisering och analys har vi utgått från Karasek/Johnsonskrav/kontroll/stödmodell samt förstärkt denna med projektspecifika faktorer som hämtats frånteori om projektledning.Genom analysen av våra empiriska data drar vi slutsatsen att projektledare som ärverksamma inom Pegasusprogrammet upplever sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö på flera olikasätt. Detta innebär i denna studie att flera av respondenterna upplever en hög grad avarbetskrav i den psykosociala arbetsmiljön. Samtidigt varierar graden av egenkontroll ochsocialt stöd i arbetet mellan respondenterna. Vi kan också se att flera av projektledarnaupplever att deras psykosociala arbetsmiljö är stressande medan andra ser den främst somstimulerande. Utifrån de olika upplevelserna riskerar därmed vissa av projektledarna i högreutsträckning än andra, att på sikt drabbas av psykosomatiska besvär så länge deras arbetskravinte motsvaras av en högre grad av egenkontroll.Nyckelord:

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-08-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:11:55Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 andreoli_al_me_bauru.pdf: 2837768 bytes, checksum: 899d0f484921dccf16d7027e336d500b (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O presente trabalho é o resultado de uma pesquisa aplicada ao desenvolvimento de um equipamento eletrônico microprocessado destinado ao controle de demanda máxima e de fator de potência em instalações elétricas. Motivado pelo aumento na demanda e pela limitação nos recursos do sistema elétrico interligado, o uso de equipamentos que permitam o gerenciamento de energia pelo lado da demanda tem se difundido com grande velocidade, pois é o método de racionalização do uso de energia elétrica que apresenta boa relação entre custo e benefícios, trazendo resultados favoráveis em curto prazo. O uso de controladores de demanda máxima e de fator de potência nas instalações atendidas por contratos de fornecimento horo-sazonal é uma forma de garantir que o sistema não ultrapasse os limites contratuais, que resultam em aplicação de multa, e também um modo de se operar o sistema dentro de parâmetros conhecidos evitando perdas excessivas, racionalizando a utilização de seus componentes. Embora não exista regulamentação relacionada a tarifas diferenciadas de energia elétrica para unidades atendidas em baixa tensão, a utilização de controladores de demanda máxima e fator de potência pode trazer à esta classe de consumidores os benefícios do gerenciamento de energia, reduzindo perdas e em muitos casos permitindo a diminuição no valor da fatura de energia. Pelo ponto de vista do fornecimento, a existência de controle de demanda nas unidades consumidoras permite um melhor planejamento e maior aproveitamento do sistema de distribuição, minimizando investimentos no setor. Para aplicação em unidades consumidoras de porte reduzido, os equipamentos de gerenciamento de energia disponíveis no mercado apresentam dois inconvenientes principais: o excesso de recursos que na maioria dos casos não é explorado em sua... / The present work is the result of an applied research to the development of an electronic microcontrolled device used in the control of maximum demand and power factor in small and medium range electric facilities. Stimulated by the increase of demand and limitation of electrical resources of the interconnected system, the use of demand-side energy management devices was increased, since this method is the better mode to provide the energy rationalization, good cost-benefits relationship and presents best results in a short time interval after its implementation. The use of maximum demand and power factor controllers in facilities with differential billing fares is a method of guarantee that the agreement limits will not be exceeded, resulting in penalties, and also a safe mode of system operation, reducing losses and rationalizing the use their components. Although don't exist regulation related to the differential billing applied to low-voltage supplied consumers, the use of maximum demand and power factor controllers can bring to this consumers category the benefits of energy management, reducing losses and in most cases decreasing the energy billing. In the supply point of view, the demand control in consumers units allow the better planning and the best utilization of distribution system, minimizing the investment in this sector. For application in small-size consumer units, the commercially available energy management devices have two inconvenient: excess of resources, in the most cases sub-utilized which increase the price, and the need of a special external energy meter or energy transducer, uncommon in this class of facility. The device developed in this research have an electronic energy measurement system and associated signals independent of the supplier's meter, and also... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Högskolelärare omges av många kravställningar från olika håll samt en hög arbetsbelastning som de behöver hantera för att kunna balansera sitt arbete med privatlivet. Forskning är bristfällig hur högskolelärare hanterar att balansera sin höga arbetsbelastning med deras privatliv. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att utifrån ett hälsopedagogiskt perspektiv belysa hur högskolelärare lär sig hantera balansen mellan arbete och privatliv inom högskolesektorn. Teoretisk referensram: Den teoretiska referensramen består av en hälsoteoretisk utgångspunkt i krav-kontroll-stödmodellen samt en pedagogisk utgångspunkt i anpassnings- och utvecklingsinriktat lärande. Metod: Den metod som studien utgår ifrån är av kvalitativ art där det empiriska materialet samlades in genom tre fokusgruppsintervjuer. Sammanlagt deltog tretton högskolelärare i studien. Studien pendlade mellan ett deduktivt och induktivt arbetssätt och materialet analyserades genom analysmetoden kategorisering. Resultat: Högskolelärarnas arbetssituation präglas av både organisatoriska och individuella krav och denna kombination av krav kan skapa ett gränslöst arbete beroende på individens personlighet. För att hantera de kravställningar som högskolelärare omges av så utvecklar de olika individuella strategier. De upplever även en hög kontroll vilket beskrivs som både positivt och negativt då de upplever arbetsglädje, dock bidrar hög kontroll till att de arbetar mycket övertid samt hemifrån. Högskolelärarna beskriver brister i det sociala stödet då högskolesektorn präglas av mycket individbaserade arbetsuppgifter och mer teambaserat arbete önskas. Slutsats: Den huvudsakliga slutsatsen som dras är att gränsen mellan arbete och privatliv består av flera olika gränser som är svåra att definiera, samt att högskolelärarnas förhållningssätt är att de anpassar sig och att de accepterar de rådande arbetsförhållandena istället för att motverka och förändra dem. / Academic teachers are surrounded by many demands from different directions and a high workload that they need to handle in order to balance their working and personal life. Research is inadequate how academic teachers manage to balance their high workload with their privacy. Purpose: The aim of the study is to illuminate the balance between work and personal life in the higher education sector from a health education perspective. Theoretical reference framework: The theoretical frame of reference consists of a health theoretical point of departure in the demand-control and support model and an educational starting point in adaptation and development- oriented learning. Method: The methodology from which the study is based is of a qualitative nature where the empirical material was collected through three focus group interviews. A total of thirteen college teachers participated in the study. The study commuted between a deductive and inductive mode of work and the material was analyzed by the analysis method categorization. Result: The worksituation of academic teachers is characterized by both organizational and individual requirements and this combination of requirements can create boundless work depending on the individual's personality. In order to handle the demands of academic teachers, they develop different individual strategies. They also experience a high level of control, which is described as both positive and negative as they experience job satisfaction, yet provide high levels of control that they work a lot of overtime and from home. Academic teachers describe shortcomings in social support, since the higher education sector is characterized by highly individual-based tasks and more team- based work is desired. Conclusion: The main conclusion drawn is that the boundary between work and privacy consists of several different boundaries that are difficult to define, and that the attitude of academic teachers is that they adapt and that they accede to the prevailing working conditions instead of counteracting and changing them.

As a consequence of the Covid-19 global pandemic, many occupational groups have been forced to readjust to teleworking. This has resulted in meetings held through different digital platforms, such as smartphones and video-meetings, instead of seeing each other physically face-to-face. This study aims to investigate social workers' experience of performing social work from home based on the aspects of relationship and communication. Central questions that are covered is how collegial- and client relationships are affected when digital means of communication becomes the leading way to communicate. Previous research that is referred to in this study illustrates aspects such as how relationships are affected when communication is done through digital means, what social workers' work situation looks like and the importance of relationships at work for social workers. The theories that are used in this study is symbolic interactionism, communication theory and control-demand-support. The study is based on the qualitative research method semi-structured interviews, containing six participants. The results of this study shows that performing work from home has both positive and negative aspects. Teleworking social workers have a need for social interaction and support from colleagues. Also, physical encounters are perceived as important when it comes to the assessment of clients, but the more established the relationship is, the less of a need for physical encounters. Having client contact from home can generate a negative feeling that clients comes to close, while for others an emotional distance is created through the calming effect of the home environment. / På grund av omständigheterna med covid-19 har organiseringen av arbetet kommit till att ställas om till distansarbete för flera yrkesgrupper ute i samhället. Detta har bland annat inneburit möten via digitala medier, som till exempel mobiltelefon och videomöten istället för att mötas fysiskt. Denna studie undersöker socialsekreterares upplevelse av att utföra socialt arbete på distans utifrån aspekter relation och kommunikation. Centrala frågor som behandlas i är hur kollegiala relationer och klientrelationer påverkas när digitala kommunikationsmedel blir det ledande sättet att kommunicera på. Den tidigare forskning som hänvisas till i denna studie belyser aspekter av bland annat relationsskapande när kommunikationen sker digitalt, hur socialarbetares arbetssituation ser ut och vad vikten av relationer på arbetet innebär för socialarbetare. De teoretiska utgångspunkterna i denna studie är symbolisk interaktionism, kommunikationsteori och krav-kontroll-socialt stöd. Studien är baserad på en kvalitativ forskningsmetod där sex stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts. Socialsekreterare som arbetar på distans har ett behov av fysisk social samvaro och stöd från kollegor, att fysiska träffar upplevs som viktiga vid bedömningar av klienter, men ju mer etablerad relation desto mindre behov av fysiska träffar har man. Det visade sig även att utförandet av klientrelaterat socialt arbete hemifrån kunde ge en negativ känsla av att klienter kommer för nära, medan för andra skapades en emotionell distans genom hemmiljöns lugnande inverkan.