WELLBEING AND

SAFETY AT Dr. Sreerupa

Sengupta
WORKPLACE
REFLECTION:
Does workplace stress lead to any cost for the company?

Do you think workplace stress has created business

opportunities for healthcare industry?
 Inemuri – When sleep at work is valued -
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/201605
06-the-japanese-art-of-not-sleeping
Early discussions related to workplace
stress began in 1980s in USA
National Institute of Occupational Health
and Safety (NIOH) began the conversation
NIOH argued workplace stress affects
mental health of the workers and impacts
productivity of the employee/worker –
WORKPLACE STRESS leading to psycho-social disorders
Tedtalk on Stress, health and well being

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=QE8kNh52EeU

In 2019, World Health Organization labeled

employee burnout a medical condition,
noting that its cause is chronic workplace
stress
Research shows - workplace stressors such
as long hours, economic insecurity, work–
family conflict, and high job demands
coupled with low job control are harmful
for health
In 2019, in USA, workplace stressors cost
the country $180 billion
Starbucks paid more for health insurance
than for coffee in the last 2-3 years
 WHAT IS WELL-BEING?

Centre for Disease Control (CDC) says broadly well-being refers to a positive outcome that is
meaningful to people and for many sectors of the society
Well-being includes presence of positive emotions and moods (e.g., contentment, happiness),
absence of negative emotions (e.g., depression, anxiety), satisfaction with life, fulfillment and
positive functioning
Well-being is associated with self-perceived health, longevity, healthy behaviour, mental and
physical health, social connectedness and productivity
Health enables physical, mental and personal development which in integral to well-being.
 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF
WELL-BEING
Career Well-being How you occupy your time? What kind of work you do? How do you manage your work
related stress? Do you enjoy life or do you focus only on work? How do you manage
work and career?

Social Well-being Focuses on your relationships with your loved ones

• Socialise with friends and family
• Mix social time with physical activity
• Strengthen mutual connections in your network

Financial Well-being Focuses on financial management by the individual

• Buy experiences – such as vacation with friends and loved ones
• Establish default savings mechanism (invest wisely, consult investment planners)

Physical Well-being How are you taking care of our body? Are you making decisions which are net positive for
your physical health?
Community Well-Being How is your surrounding? Quality of air, water, safety? Do you take part in any community
activity?
 REFLECTION: FROM STIGMA
TO STRATEGY
You are the HR head of a medical device company. You observe your employees are facing the
problem of burn out and also have approached you with regard to their mental well-being. You
spoke to the CEO and a meeting has been convened to tackle the issue.
You know mental health–related smartphone applications have flooded the market. These
applications have the potential to enhance the counseling relationship, and dramatically improve
the lives of clients.

Questions:
What will be your suggestions to deal with employee mental wellbeing?
Will you suggest your CEO to procure one of the mental health–related smartphone applications?
What are the positive and negative impact of mental health–related smartphone apps?
ASSESSMENT FOR
WORKPLACE
WELLBEING

WHY ASSESSMENT?
Improved employee health and well-
being
Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism
Increased productivity and job
satisfaction
Reduced healthcare costs
Improved company image and
reputation
Components of Workplace Health
Assessment –
Physical: assesses employees' physical health
status, including their overall fitness,
musculoskeletal health, and cardiovascular health.
Mental: assesses employees' mental health status,
including their stress levels, anxiety, and
depression.
Ergonomic assessment: assesses the ergonomic
design of workstations and tasks to identify
potential risks for musculoskeletal disorders.
Safety assessment: assesses safety of the
workplace environment, including the
identification and control of potential hazards.
Psychosocial assessment: assesses the
psychosocial factors in the workplace, such as job
stress, workload, and social support.
ASSESSMENT OF WORKPLACE WELLBEING AND SAFETY

2012: ILO developed SOLVE

training tool to assist organisations
develop policy and programs for
addressing health promotion issues at
workplace – which includes well-
being at workplace along with
addressing safety at workplace

SOLVE deals with work-related

varied range of stressors
 WHY DO WE NEED TO ADDRESS SAFETY AT WORK?

Workplace safety is needed for protecting health and for

maintaining well-being of employees and employers

Sexual harassment is a deterrent to workplace safety

2019: ILO had its Centenary Conference where Violence

and Harassment Convention (No. 190) and its
accompanying Recommendation (No. 206) were adopted

Convention defines violence and harassment as “a range

of unacceptable behaviour and practices, or threats
thereof, whether a single occurrence or repeated, that
aim at, result in or are likely to result in physical,
psychological, sexual or economic harm...”
Cost of Sexual Harassment and Violence at Workplace
 READINGS

Read this report

https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/au/Documents/Economics/deloitte-au-
economic-costs-sexual-harassment-workplace-240320.pdf

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925753518308610?via%3Dihub

Refer to Lee Kum Sheung Centre for Health and Happiness, Harvard T Chan School of Public Health
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/health-happiness/research-spotlights/
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/health-happiness/repository-of-workplace-wellbeing-measures/
https://workwellbeinginitiative.org/resources