Encouraging SMEs to embrace well-being practices among their remote workforce.

From the above needs analysis, we developed three core objectives for this project. 1. To promote the adoption of healthy lifestyle principles among remote workers, their managers, and businesses...

From the above needs analysis, we developed three core objectives for this project. 1. To promote the adoption of healthy lifestyle principles among remote workers, their managers, and businesses, in particular SMEs. Here, specifically, we wanted to create a flexible and resilient future workspace and facilitate the development of robust initiatives and programmes for workforce well-being. 2. To empower SMEs and their workers, including HR managers and staff, to acquire the essential skills required of the home work environment. We wanted to create specialised cutting-edge resources and tools in the form of micro-learning scenarios and an educational video game to be played at home. 3. To bridge the gap between the demands placed on these workers and the small companies and their desires for better working conditions and mental health. We would achieve these through intertwining with a further three objectives, namely A. developing best practice frameworks to enhance awareness, B. creating OERs to train remote workers in lifestyle practices, including physical activities, and also in training for digital skills, and C. fostering collaboration between key stakeholders through support structures for remote workers.

The project was implemented through a series of interlinked activities designed to address the identified needs and achieve the stated objectives. Key activities included: 1. Needs Analysis & Awareness Focus Groups - Where a series of surveys and focus groups were enacted with HR staff and remote working employees to gain a comprehensive state of play in the remote work landscape of Cyprus, Czechia, and Poland. 2. The creation of a healthy remote work Framework & Training Material - Where target groups were consulted to review content created to specifically aid them, namely Micro-credentials exploring IT skills, workplace ergonomics, communication skills and stress management, along with further content and details as elucidated by the surveys and focus groups. 3. The creation of Minecraft Escape Rooms for HR Staff/Trainers - Where gamified learning provides an engaging and novel way to develop better work-from-home skills. The Minecraft games themselves are specifically designed to be suitable for remote work training, and an accompanying trainer’s guide has been created to additionally support this. Lastly, all these results were validated to ensure the quality and effectiveness before their final release.

The project has delivered a robust set of outputs for wider public use, including: 1. The complete Micro-credential training content for better remote work skills 2. The framework of best practices for remote work and good mental health 3. The Minecraft Escape Room Game that was developed using the Minecraft Education Edition software to better harness those very same skills in a remote work setting and was designed for trainers to use in facilitation sessions (each resource was updated in line with feedback loops and external and internal testing). All public deliverables can be found on the project website: https://remwork4smes.erasmusplus.website/