With the release of CIPD’s UK Working Lives survey, there are several components of what is classed as a ‘good job’, e.g. pay and benefits, job design, work-life balance and health and well-being. This survey obtained responses from 6,000 UK workers at different job levels in several sectors and geographical regions. It is not surprisingly that health and well-being, especially mental health, emerged as a main theme in the survey. Those in permanent roles fare worst in mental health. As previously stated in my last article, one in every four adults experiences a mental health issue at some point in their working life.
A point I made during the seminar I facilitated on 10th May 2018 at BIMAP is that middle managers feel the strain and are under enormous pressure hence report the highest levels of anxiety, depression and exhaustion. Most feel overworked and that the pressure is negatively affecting their mental health. Stress can flow downhill and stressed managers tend to have stressed employees. This does not bode well for the organisation or productivity.
My last article outlined various ways in which organisations can commit to the promotion of positive mental health. These are vital to improving job satisfaction, motivation and productivity. It only takes one situation to change an individual’s mental health and an organisation that has a more preventative approach to mental well-being, an open culture, better development opportunities, proper job design and trained line managers can greatly support an individual’s mental health issues and create a healthier workforce and workplace.
Finally, I will stress the importance of developing a health and well-being strategy which must be supported by senior leadership and implemented throughout the organisation. This is not optional but mandatory as mental health issues are on the steady increase with no sign of abating.
Ms. Jolene King has over 15 years business management and HR international experience gained in the UK, USA and Barbados. She holds a MA degree in Human Resource Management from University of Derby, a MSc. degree in Industrial/Organisational Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology and a BSc. degree in Sociology with Psychology from University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. Ms. King is an active committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) Northamptonshire branch and is an Associate member of the Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology (SIOP).