Build healthier, safer and higher-performing workplaces
The way work is designed can have a significant impact on wellbeing, safety and performance.
Smarter Work Design is a practical suite of tools and resources that helps organisations identify work design risks, improve the way work is organised and create better outcomes for workers and businesses alike.
Developed with workplace psychology and organisational consulting experts Lysander, these resources are designed to help you move from insight to action, with practical guidance every step of the way.
What is Smarter Work Design?
Smarter Work Design helps organisations understand how factors such as workload, role clarity, support, fairness and job control can influence workplace wellbeing and performance.
The suite includes practical tools, guides and resources that help organisations:
Whether you’re just getting started or looking for more comprehensive support, there’s a resource to meet your needs.
Why it matters
The way work is designed can have a powerful influence on worker wellbeing, engagement and performance.
EML’s 2026 insights report, Inside the Minds of Australia’s Workplaces: Making Work, Work Better, [link] highlights the important role that work design plays in shaping workplace experiences and outcomes. The findings reinforce that factors such as workload, role clarity, support, fairness and job control can significantly impact how people experience work.
By taking a proactive approach to work design, organisations can:
- Identify and address psychosocial risks earlier
- Support healthier, safer and more productive workplaces
- Improve worker wellbeing, engagement and performance
The result? Better work design that supports positive outcomes for workers, teams and organisations.
Who will benefit?
These resources are designed for anyone with responsibility for creating healthy and productive workplaces, including:
- Executives and senior leaders
- Managers and team leaders
- People and culture professionals
- Health, safety and wellbeing professionals
- Business owners and operational leaders
Where to start
The Smarter Work Design tools work together to support a practical journey from understanding work design risks through to workplace improvement.
Start with the Leader Guide to build your understanding of work design, psychosocial hazards and the principles of creating healthier ways of working.
Complete the Self-Audit Tool to identify areas where work design may be impacting wellbeing, safety or performance within your workplace.
Use the Five Core Areas Guide to explore the key work design factors of Load, Control, Clarity, Support and Fairness and understand how they influence workplace outcomes.
Access the Smarter Work Design Toolkit for practical tools, action guides and resources designed to help you redesign work and implement meaningful improvements.
Use the Governance and Executive Sponsorship Pack to build leadership commitment, support implementation and embed continuous improvement.
Looking for a quick snapshot?
If you’re looking for a quick way to explore how work design factors may be impacting a role, team or work process, EML’s 2026 insights report, Inside the Minds of Australia’s Workplaces: Making Work, Work Better, provides valuable insights into the relationship between work design and worker wellbeing. To help organisations apply these insights in their own workplace, EML has developed the Making Work, Work Better Job Design Map Tool [link].
Where to find the resources
All Smarter Work Design resources are available through EMlearning.
Explore the tools, guides and templates to identify opportunities to redesign work, reduce psychosocial risk and create healthier, safer and higher-performing workplaces.
Continue your Smarter Work Design journey today.
1. Learn the fundamentals
Start with the Leader Guide to build your understanding of work design, psychosocial hazards and the principles of creating healthier ways of working.
2. Identify opportunities
Complete the Self-Audit Tool to identify areas where work design may be impacting wellbeing, safety or performance within your workplace.
3. Build your understanding
Use the Five Core Areas Guide to explore the key work design factors of Load, Control, Clarity, Support and Fairness and understand how they influence workplace outcomes.
4. Take action
Access the Smarter Work Design Toolkit for practical tools, action guides and resources designed to help you redesign work and implement meaningful improvements.
5. Sustain change
Use the Governance and Executive Sponsorship Pack to build leadership commitment, support implementation and embed continuous improvement.