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Check our catalogueWork Well-being at Risk: Background Causes and Factors
External Risk Factors
Workload:
Excessive workloads, high levels of urgency, tight schedules, and consecutive series of complicated projects burden employees.
Working hours:
Factors such as a demand for being reachable outside regular working hours, regularly working overtime, and tasks extending beyond normal workdays negatively impact employees’ well-being at work.
Organizational culture:
An organizational culture that emphasizes excessive internal competition, maximization of profits at any cost, or efficiency regardless of consequences can create a stressful work environment.
Quality of Leadership:
Poor leadership, lack of clear guidance, and inadequate support from supervisors’ cause uncertainty and increase employee stress.
Job uncertainty:
Uncertainty factors such as risk of dismissal or organizational transformations can heighten anxiety and stress.
Working Conditions:
Inadequate working conditions, such as too much noise, poor ergonomic conditions, and poor air quality, have a negative impact on work well-being.
Commute and Mobility:
Long commutes and mobile work can be physically and mentally taxing.
Internal Risk Factors
Stress Management Skills:
An individual’s ability to handle stress and pressure affects how they cope with work-related demands.
Values and Attitudes:
Personal values and attitudes towards work influence how an employee perceives and reacts to stress.
Psychological Resources:
Individual psychological resources, such as self-confidence, independence, and the ability to cope with difficult situations, are crucial factors in work well-being.
Health and Lifestyle:
Overall health and lifestyle factors, such as exercise, nutrition, and sleep, directly impact well-being at work.
Motivation and Commmitment:
Social Support:
Lack of social support in both work and personal life can increase vulnerability to stress and burnout.
Impact of Decreasing Work Well-being
Challenges in work well-being have effects on both the well-being of employees and the efficiency of the organization. Burnout, sick leaves, and employee turnover cause significant costs. According to Deloitte the costs associated with absences related to mental health issues are nearly 1,000 euros per employee per year.
How Decreasing Work Well-being Affects Individuals
Deterioration of Health:
Individuals experience physical symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, and digestive issues, as well as psychological challenges such as anxiety and depression.
Burnout:
Reduced work well-being can lead to burnout, manifested as a sense of powerlessness, lack of energy, and a general cynicism towards work.
Decline in Work Motivation:
Individuals’ work motivation decreases, affecting the quality of work and commitment.
Work-life Imbalance:
Challenges in work well-being make it difficult to balance work and personal life, negatively impacting overall quality of life.
Problems in Social Relationships:
Personal relationships can suffer as challenges in work well-being at work persist. This can lead to isolation and an increased sense of loneliness.
Obstacles to Professional Growth:
Challenges in well-being can hinder individuals’ professional development and the realization of their full potential.
Impact of Reduced Work Well-being on the Organizations
Decrease in Productivity:
Fatigued and stressed employees often struggle to deliver their best performance, leading to a decline in productivity that is reflected on the organization’s results.
Increase in Absenteeism:
Reduced work well-being contributes to higher rates of sick leave and disability. This increases organizational costs and burdens the remaining workforce.
Employee turnover
Issues with employees’ well-being lead to higher turnover rates. Recruiting new employees, providing orientation, and reaching an efficient work level become costly for organizations.
Diminished Workplace Atmosphere:
Challenges in well-being at work have a negative impact on the workplace atmosphere. This can lead to conflicts, mistrust, and weakened teamwork.
Reputation Problems:
The organization’s reputation suffers if a significant number of burnout cases or the consequences of burnout become publicized.
Organization’s Solutions
Workload Management:
By assessing employees’ workload, it is possible to better manage the distribution of workload and implement measures such as allocating resources more effectively or setting realistic schedules.
Working Hours Flexibility:
Offering employees the opportunity for flexible working hours and remote work promotes a balance between work and leisure.
Clear Guidelines:
Clear guidance on job tasks and a well-designed onboarding process promotes work well-being.
Training Opportunities:
Providing employees with access to relevant training ensures adequate readiness for performing their tasks. Emphasis on self-management, recovery skills, and mindset training will help to increase work well-being.
Workplace Wellness Programs:
Workplace wellness programs are systematic and comprehensive action plans by organizations aimed at improving employees’ well-being and supporting them in their work.
Supervisor Training:
Developing leadership skills is a significant part of ensuring the team’s work well-being. Supervisors and management should also understand the basics of stress and well-being and possess tools for identifying challenges.
Supervisor Support:
Providing supervisors with sufficient time and resources to support team members. An example of effective leadership is removing work obstacles and promoting learning through coaching.
Occupational Healthcare:
Access to quality occupational healthcare and psychological support.
Improving Workplace Atmosphere:
Creating a positive and open workplace atmosphere that supports interaction, collaboration, and well-being.
Solutions for Individuals
Stress Management Skills:
Stress management skills can be developed through practices such as resilience training, mindfulness, and relaxation coaching.
Time Management:
Improving time management and prioritization skills helps focus on essential tasks at work, leading to increased productivity.
Exercise and Healthy Diet:
Regular exercise and a healthy diet enhance both physical and mental well-being.
Ensuring Quality Sleep:
It is crucial to obtain sufficient, high-quality sleep, as good sleep is vital for overall well-being.
Social Support:
When life becomes challenging, it is important to talk about it. A listener or conversation partner can be found in colleagues, friends, family members, or professionals.
Professional Development:
Continuously developing professional skills and workplace skills is key to work well-being.
Work-life Balance:
Maintaining a healthy balance between work and leisure enables adequate recovery and adds meaning to life.
