The ability to remember work tasks and activities is a necessary requirement in most workplaces across all industries. We can all be forgetful from time to time, especially when we are busy, tired, or preoccupied. However, it can be very stressful for workers who regularly experience difficulty remembering what is required of them as the result of some form of cognitive impairment.
It is important to acknowledge and assist those in the workplace who experience memory problems as this can have ramifications in the workplace regarding job performance and also perhaps safety.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
While at work a number of strategies can be used to assist workers with remembering tasks and activities. These include:
- aim to schedule the early part of the working day for attention demanding tasks or activities
- break down job tasks into small steps and use visual prompts for each step in order to assist workers to refocus and continue with tasks if they forget what comes next (for example, use a pin board or white board displaying flow charts)
- establish a buddy programme with a co-worker to provide extra support for workers who experience memory problems
- foster a healthy lifestyle for workers and be conscious of stress levels in the workplace
- encourage physical fitness and if lunches are provided, make healthy foods available
- incorporate the use of acronyms (abbreviations typically using the first letter of words) and mnemonics (often short poems or sayings used to remember information)
- provide workers with to do lists and schedule regular breaks
(Epilepsy Action in Australia 2001-2006, Brain Injury Association of Queensland Inc. 2007)
There are also various aids and products available that can assist with memory issues, such as:
References and resources
Brain Injury Association of Queensland Inc. 2007, Memory Problems Fact Sheet.
Brain Injury Association of Queensland Inc., Brisbane, viewed 13 June 2007, <http://braininjury.org.au/portal/content/view/88/290/>.
Epilepsy Action in Australia 2001–2006, Lifestyle Issues—Memory, Epilepsy Association, Sydney, viewed 13 June 2007, <http://www.epilepsy.org.au/memory.asp>.