Anyone who has ever worked in a hazardous atmosphere can attest to the negative effects it has on your physical and emotional well-being.
The American administration is now providing some proof to support that perception.
In a report released on Thursday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy made connections between physical health issues including cancer and heart disease and factors such as poor pay, discrimination, harassment, overwork, and long commutes. These toxic workplaces can also cause depression and anxiety.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the nature of work and the bond many employees have with their places of employment. Our work’s relationship to our health has become increasingly more clear “In the report, Murthy stated.
Protection from injury, connection and community, work-life balance, feeling important at work, and opportunities for advancement are the five elements he listed as making up a good workplace.
The Surgeon General’s office stated that developing a work environment that places a strong emphasis on these principles can support inclusion, equitable pay, and career advancement possibilities for employees.
These values must be instilled, according to Murthy, and doing so “will require organisations to rethink how they protect workers from harm, foster a sense of connection among workers, demonstrate to them that they matter, make space for their lives outside of work, and support their long-term professional growth.” “It might not be simple. But it will be worthwhile because both workers and organisations stand to gain from it. Healthy communities and successful organisations are built on a strong workforce.”
The epidemic and adjustments to working from home have both aided employees in finding a work-life balance, according to the survey.
According to the study, “these [work and home] role conflicts can amplify psychological stress, raise the risk for harmful behaviours like smoking, bad eating habits, alcohol and substance use, and prescription abuse, and disrupt relationships both at work and at home.”
According to the survey, “when people are anxious or depressed, their work tends to suffer in quality, pace, and performance.”
Employee satisfaction and productivity go hand in hand, according to Gabriella Kellerman, chief product officer at corporate coaching platform BetterUp, who was quoted by CBS News.
Because of the nature of work and the enormous amount of uncertainty from companies and the external environment, which is inherently challenging to our mental well-being and role, Kellerman asserts that “companies today have a role to play in supporting their employees because it’s morally right to do so, but it’s also beneficial to their bottom lines.”
“The fact that the Surgeon General actually recommends this is tremendously important as a message,” she continued. “They are offering employers specific advice on what is most important to enhance employees’ wellbeing. Getting this specific and directive is a whole new level of involvement and direction.”
