As a follow up to our article in issue 48 of Insight, the “Impact of approachable managers on worker health and safety”, one of the more common stress risk factors which can impact seriously on worker health and safety is a poor work-life balance.
The phenomena of workaholism (working compulsively at the expense of other pursuits) and presenteeism (working for more the required hours, including working while sick, due to feeling insecure about the job or feeling the need to prove oneself) are both manifestations of this problem.
It is not uncommon for employers to either fail to recognise, or even to actively exploit, these tendencies in workers. However, if allowed to persist, both problems frequently result in an overall reduction in productivity and job performance, increase in sick leave and staff turnover, and a poor workplace culture.
Employers can take action to intervene in the cycle. Actions can include:
- Being aware of what hours staff are actually working.
- Discuss the issues, and workplace expectations regarding them, with workers, so that individuals realise they are not expected to work excessive hours, or respond to emails 24/7, etc.
- Base remuneration and career advancement decisions on quality, not quantity, of work or time spent ‘at the desk’.
- Provide information on strategies for ‘de-coupling’ from work outside of hours, e.g. meditation and relaxation techniques, exercise etc.
- Provide individually targeted counselling and assistance to those struggling with workaholism or presenteeism.
- Intervene and query why when staff regularly work extended hours and devise strategies to minimise this.
- Include a WHS KPI that all employees will take a period of leave of at least two consecutive weeks each year, to ensure that they get a “real break” from work.
Taking action as an employer against these problems can help to achieve a healthier, more productive, and more stable workforce.
Please contact QRMC for more information.
