The Psychologically Unhealthy Workplace

We have talked about in previous blog posts work being a place where many people face adversity. The list includes long hours, low wages, unsafe working conditions and, in general, work-life imbalance.

The recession can be blamed for some of this. It seems to have pushed companies and organizations to try to squeeze as many hours and as much work out of each employee as humanly possible. This also results in companies hiring a large number of their workers on a part-time basis with no benefits of any kind. Most of us can name a number of companies and organizations we would not want to work for. But can we name those we would like to work for? Those that are psychologically healthy workplaces.

The American Psychological Association, along with state psychological associations across the country, has developed a program to recognize those organizations and companies that do well by their employees and their communities. The program is called the Psychological Healthy Workplace Awards Program. Applicants for the award are evaluated on their efforts in five areas: employee involvement, work-life balance, employee growth and development, health and safety and employee recognition.

Each year, state psychological associations, such as the Maine Psychological Association, look for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations; small, medium-sized or large, they would encourage to apply for the award. Participants fill out an application, a sample of employees complete a survey, and a site visit is completed. The whole process takes a few months: application, employee survey, which is confidential, a brief site visit and report back to the organization.

Winners of the award are recognized by the state psychological associations through press releases and an awards ceremony, and may be nominated by the state association to enter the competition at the national level. Each year since early 1999, the American Psychological Association has recognized (these companies or organizations) through a dinner and awards ceremony.

If you know a business or organization that you would like to see apply for this award, ask them to contact their state psychological association or the national Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards Program at:  www.phwa.org. The awards are open to all organizations, and there is no fee for applying.

I think it’s important in these times to remember that a number of organizations and companies are doing the right thing by their employees. These organizations need to be recognized and supported.

Dr. Ron Breazeale