Abstract
When reflecting about the subjectivity implicit in the tasks’ execution and in the affective relationships developed in the work environment, the psychosocial factors influencing work are frequently ignored. Excessive demand, hierarchical requirements, and discontent are issues that, if poorly managed, can contribute to the worker’s mental illness and have a significant impact on the quality of the work performed. In the specific case of a public university, where workers interact directly with people, illness goes beyond the limits of the work environment. It disqualifies the service provided to the university’s community and the society that needs it. In line with this, actions to attain a better quality of life and well-being at work will be discussed, as well as demands to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 in particular, i.e., good health and well-being. In discussion’s scope are the challenges faced by the Quality of Work Life Centre (QWLC) at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) in implementing a quality of work life (QWL) policy. QWLC has the mission of taking care of issues involving relationships at work, including remote work, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In University’s documents, exploratory research was conducted to collect data related to the QWL policy. A descriptive qualitative analysis was then performed, analysing scientific publications available in selected databases. The results demonstrate UFBA’s effort to improve the social-affective conditions in the institution’s workplaces and its effective interest in contributing to SDG 3.
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Acknowledgments
Nelson Barros and Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis would like to express their gratitude for the support of the Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit of FP-ENAS under the project UID/MULTI/0546/2019.
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Borges, R.R., Dinis, M.A.P., Barros, N. (2023). Well-Being at Work and Sustainability in Public Services: Brazilian University Case. In: Aguilar-Rivera, N., Borsari, B., R. B. de Brito, P., Andrade Guerra, B. (eds) SDGs in the Americas and Caribbean Region. Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals – Regional Perspectives. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16017-2_10
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