Mental well-being at the workplace

Employee mental health is increasingly being acknowledged as a critical predictor of their overall health, and that poor mental health and job pressures can contribute to a variety of physical disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, among others. Furthermore, poor mental health can lead to employee burnout, which has a significant impact on their capacity to contribute meaningfully in both their personal and professional life..[1]

Mental health issues are a reason of a number of people quitting their jobs, according to data from various countries throughout the world. Around 58 percent of work-related disabilities in the Netherlands are mental health-related. [2] In the United Kingdom, it is believed that 30–40% of sick days are due to mental illness. [3]

Employers and enterprises are directly impacted by mental health issues due to increased absenteeism, a negative impact on production and revenues, and an increase in costs to address the issue. [4] Furthermore, they have a negative impact on employee morale.

Work-related stress is a major cause of occupational ill health, poor productivity and human error. This means increased sickness absence, high staff turnover and poor performance in the organization and a possible increase in accidents due to human error. Work-related stress could also manifest as heart disease, back pain, headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances or various minor illnesses; as well as psychological effects such as anxiety and depression, loss of concentration and poor decision making.[5]

People's negative reactions to excessive pressures or other sorts of expectations are referred to as stress. There is a major difference between pressure, which can be motivating, and stress, which occurs when pressure becomes extreme.

Some professions are more vulnerable to mental health issues than others. A study in the Netherlands plotted skill levels against work speed to get a sense of the risk of stress and mental illness for various occupations. Higher stress levels were linked to an increased risk of mental illness. [6]

MEASURING AND CONTROLLING WORK-RELATED STRESS AND IMPROVING WORKPLACE MENTAL WELL-BEING

A tool has been widely used to assess the level of work-related stress and the steps that can be taken to reduce it. [7–10]

The Work Stress Scale (WSS) is a measure that allows individuals to estimate the level of stress they are experiencing in the following general domains:

• Relationship issues with superiors
• Regulatory restraints
• Conflict between work and family
• Relationship issues with colleagues
• Pressure to perform &
• Poor job prospects

Relationship issues with superiors

Dealing with an unpleasant supervisor is the most common source of workplace stress. However, by increasing communication skills, this may be lot easier to fix. A genuine dialogue could make a difference. Sometimes the manager will set unrealistic goals, and an open dialogue will reveal what deadlines can be fulfilled.

Stress can also be caused by tasks that are not part of an employee's function or skill set. Companies frequently require employees to multitask, yet this may impair their capacity to deliver. The easiest method to resolve this is to communicate with superiors as soon as possible. The hierarchical character of organisations is one area where the personality-disordered individual may experience conflict. [11]

Relationship issues with colleagues

Another factor could be challenging coworkers or colleagues. Dealing with a problematic coworker is more challenging because their performance is frequently compared to one's own. This, too, must be settled by civil conversation and mutual agreement. One can convey to the coworker how working as part of a team has considerably more advantages than competing. However, if matters begin to spiral out of control, it should be brought to the attention of the appropriate superior.

Conflict between work and family

Families are striving to keep up with an ever-changing environment. Individuals are attempting to strike a balance between work and family obligations. [12] Domestic troubles can have an impact on work, so balancing work and home life by allocating enough time for both will help minimise stress.

Pressure to perform

Unrealistic expectations, particularly during periods of company reorganisation, may be a huge source of stress and suffering for employees, putting them under unhealthy and unfair pressures. Increased workload, excessively long work hours, and great pressure to perform at peak levels all of the time for the same compensation can physically and mentally exhaust a person. Excessive travel and time away from family can also add to an employee's stress levels.

Poor job prospects

Under the strains of intense economic transitions, organised workplaces are undergoing metamorphic shifts. Reorganizations, takeovers, mergers, rightsizing, and other changes have become major sources of stress for employees as businesses compete to stay afloat. Everyone, from the CEO to the line manager, has been put under pressure as a result of these reforms.

Regulatory restraints

Certain rules and regulations are fundamental aspects of the system to serve as checks and balances, regardless of the size of the organisation or the bureaucratic structure.

Managers, on the other hand, are likely to face limits and stress as a result of them. Uncomfortable working conditions, job overload, a lack of control over the work process, and plain monotony are all examples of occupational stressors. [13] Reduced workplace pressure and work-related psychological disorders, such as anxiety disorders, would be reduced if work role ambiguity was reduced. [14]

REFERENCES

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