As we come to the end of the year, our thoughts turn to making the same resolutions that we usually make each new year, such as losing weight, quitting bad habits, etc. How about a different and new resolution? One that both companies and employees alike would make: to create a healthier workplace for everyone? There’s always room for improvement – regardless of policies that are already in place. Let’s talk about this important issue.
According to the World Health Organization, “Personal and social codes of behavior and ethics are the foundation of every major religious and moral philosophy. One of the most basic of universally accepted ethical principles is to “do no harm” to others in the workplace. This means to ensure employees’ health and safety.” The World Health Organization’s definition of health is “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely absence of disease.”
Does this definition fit your workplace? Everyone wins when they have a healthy workplace: the employer, who provides a safe physical work environment to prevent occupational diseases, accidents and injuries, while promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging personal development. Employers should have leadership that can allow workers to meet job demands and control the workload to ensure that those workers are able to balance both their work and personal responsibilities. They should establish principles of work that will prevent stress and ill health.
Data demonstrates that in the long term, companies that promote and protect workers’ health are rewarded by retaining those employees, and are more successful and competitive than companies that don’t. Employers should consider these important factors:
Cost of prevention versus costs resulting from accidents;
Financial consequences of legal violation of health, safety, and occupational rules and laws;
Workers health as an important business asset for the company.
Of course, the other winners are the employees. If health initiatives are in the workplace, employees will enjoy greater job satisfaction, being able to balance work and family responsibilities, all the while enjoying a sense of pride and well-being. Companies will see a reduction in work-related illness, injury and disability when they enforce good safety and health policies.
Employees who have to face unreasonable deadlines become overwhelmed and out of control, which can elevate stress levels and possibly lead to depression. They think that their load can be handled better if they are able to do part of their work at home, such as using their laptop, or staying late at the office to catch up. This takes away from their family and free time, and is a hard habit to break, once they start. Workers should have the ability to negotiate their workload with their supervisor without fear of reprisal or punishment. They should be given tasks to do that afford the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge effectively with colleagues and managers while in a safe and healthy environment. They are entitled to have the tools to get their job done efficiently and receive fair pay with benefits. Those employees who are satisfied with their work environment will be more productive and make a better contribution to the company’s success.
We all want to live in a perfect world and work in a perfect workplace. While perfection may be out of reach, both employers and employees can do their part to create an environment where we can all go to our specific job assignments, feeling free from safety and health risks.
Workers and managers should plan together, using a continuous method to protect and promote the health, safety, and well-being of all employees. The strains of work that employees face are mainly trying to balance work and life issues, which creates health problems when individuals face a lack of control at work. Thus management should recognize that this can lead to distress levels that in turn can create short-term health complaints, with longer-term health disorders. A normally healthy person placed in an unhealthy work environment will likely be prone to develop problems such as heart, back pain, mental health issues, and injuries. In other words, no work environment should make people ill and susceptible to injury. Companies should also enforce policies that accommodate older workers and those with chronic disease or disabilities. They should have resources for their employees to participate in health-improvement programs.
We know that the following hazards or problems exist in many workplaces and must be addressed:
Physical – can result from structural, air, machinery, furniture, products;
Chemicals and materials;
Production processes;
Outdoor location work;
Ergonomics – awkward position, repetitive motions, lifting;
Mechanical – working around heavy machinery, noise;
Mobile – driving in hazardous conditions;
Psychosocial – Poor organization
Work demands, low reward or recognition;
Lack of supervisor support;
Poor communication;
Bullying, discrimination;
Lack of negotiation;
Lack of flexibility.
Corrections to all of these are up to administration. There should be leadership that oversees proper housekeeping of all work areas, preventive maintenance, enforcement of policies, adequate training, and furnishing the right Personal Protective Equipment, such as respirators for dusty work areas, industrial hard hats and boots for construction personnel, etc. Their policies and programs to reduce health risks and improve the quality of life for workers can be carried out in some of these ways:
Post signs to encourage use of stairs.
Place motivational posters in common areas.
Offer health education classes and weight management discussions.
Offer employee discounts for gym memberships.
Offer health benefits such as flu shots and free screenings.
Furnish literacy education to their employees and family members.
Establish smoke-free policies, by incorporating incentives and competitions, with added interventions.
It sounds as though we have put all the demands on the shoulders of the companies. But employees know that they must fulfill their obligations to the company and their families to stay healthy and safe at all times. If you check around, you might be surprised to see how many large companies play an active part in their communities as well as their businesses. They support the establishment of primary healthcare facilities in the communities. They make commitments to planners to build sidewalks, bike paths, and other projects that benefit not just their employees, but entire communities. When schools and charities solicit their help, they usually come through with financial support that individuals cannot afford to do.
So, let’s end the year and start a new one with the goal of creating a healthier workplace for ourselves and our coworkers.
Source: World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
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