THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF LOW LEVELS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE (Jacques van Zyl PhD)

 Abstract

The importance of maintaining psychological health and safety (PH&S) in the workplace has become increasingly recognized in recent years. This article explores the detrimental effects of low levels of PH&S on both individual employees and organizations, offering an insight into the wide-ranging impacts of not prioritizing mental well-being in professional settings.

Introduction

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as ‘a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’ (WHO, 2004). In the context of work, low levels of PH&S can have profound implications.

 

1. Effects on Individual Employees

 

1.1.        Decreased Job Satisfaction

 

Low PH&S levels correlate with reduced job satisfaction (Harter, Schmidt, & Keyes, 2003). Employees who feel unsupported or stressed by workplace conditions are less likely to feel positive about their roles or employer.

 

1.2.        Mental Health Disorders

 

A lack of support and increased workplace stress can lead to heightened risks for mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety (Theorell, Hammarström, Aronsson, Träskman Bendz, Grape, Hogstedt, & Hall, 2015).

 

1.3.        Burnout

 

Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, is more prevalent in environments with low PH&S (Maslach, Schaufeli, & Leiter, 2001).

 

1.4.        Physical Health Implications

 

Stress in the workplace can manifest in physical symptoms, including sleep disturbances, cardiovascular diseases, and a weakened immune system (Chandola, Brunner, & Marmot, 2006).

 

2.       Effects on Organizations

 

2.1.        Reduced Productivity

 

Employees facing psychological distress or burnout are more likely to have reduced productivity levels, affecting the overall output of the organization (Goetzel, Ozminkowski, Sederer, & Mark, 2002).

 

2.2.        Increased Absenteeism

 

Organizations with low PH&S tend to have higher absentee rates as employees take time off due to stress-related illnesses or mental health disorders (Hilton, Whiteford, Sheridan, Cleary, Chant, Wang, & Kessler, 2008).

 

2.3.        High Turnover Rates

 

Workplaces that don't prioritize PH&S often experience high employee turnover, resulting in increased recruitment and training costs (Hom, & Griffeth, 1995).

 

2.4.        Poor Organizational Reputation

 

In the age of transparency and employee reviews on platforms like Glassdoor, low PH&S can tarnish an organization's public image (Willness, Steel, & Lee, 2007).

 

2.5.        Legal and Financial Implications

 

Companies may face legal consequences if found negligent in maintaining PH&S standards, leading to fines or lawsuits (Leka, & Jain, 2010).

 

3.       Broader Societal Impact

 

Societies bear the burden of reduced PH&S in workplaces in the form of increased healthcare costs, reduced economic output, and broader public health concerns (Sauter, Murphy, & Hurrell, 1990).

 

Conclusion

 

Ignoring psychological health and safety in the workplace not only jeopardizes individual well-being but also threatens the very fabric of organizations and societies. It is imperative for modern businesses to recognize and act upon these challenges, ensuring that workplaces are not just places of business but also sanctuaries of well-being.

 

References

 

Chandola, T., Brunner, E., & Marmot, M. (2006). Chronic stress at work and the metabolic syndrome: prospective study. BMJ, 332(7540), 521-525. 

 

Goetzel, R. Z., Ozminkowski, R. J., Sederer, L. I., & Mark, T. L. (2002). The business case for quality mental health services: Why employers should care about the mental health and well-being of their employees. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 44(4), 320-330. 

 

Harter, J. K., Schmidt, F. L., & Keyes, C. L. (2003). Well-being in the workplace and its relationship to business outcomes: A review of the Gallup studies. Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived, 205-224.

 

Hilton, M. F., Whiteford, H. A., Sheridan, J. S., Cleary, C. M., Chant, D. C., Wang, P. S., & Kessler, R. C. (2008). The prevalence of psychological distress in employees and associated occupational risk factors. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 50(7), 746-757. 

 

Hom, P. W., & Griffeth, R. W. (1995). Employee turnover. South-Western Publishers. 

 

Leka, S., & Jain, A. (2010). Health impact of psychosocial hazards at work: an overview. World Health Organization.

 

Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual review of psychology, 52(1), 397-422.

 

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar23 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com.

 

Sauter, S. L., Murphy, L. R., & Hurrell Jr, J. J. (1990). Prevention of work-related psychological disorders. American Psychologist, 45(10), 1146. 

 

Theorell, T., Hammarström, A., Aronsson, G., Träskman Bendz, L., Grape, T., Hogstedt, C., ... & Hall, C. (2015). A systematic review including meta-analysis of work environment and depressive symptoms. BMC public health, 15(1), 738. 

 

Willness, C. R., Steel, P., & Lee, K. (2007). A meta-analysis of the antecedents and consequences of workplace sexual harassment. Personnel psychology, 60(1), 127-162.

 

World Health Organization (WHO). (2004). Promoting Mental Health: Concepts, Emerging Evidence, Practice. Geneva: WHO. 

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN OPTIMISING THE STRUCTURAL CAPITAL OF AN ORGANISATION – J van Zyl PhD

In the vast ecosystem of organisational success, two types of intellectual assets stand out: human capital and structural capital. While structural capital embodies the knowledge, systems, and processes inherent in an organisation, human capital focuses on the talents, skills, and competencies of its workforce. This essay seeks to underscore the pivotal role of human capital in optimising an organisation's structural capital, thereby ensuring sustained competitive advantage and superior performance.

 

Before discussing the interplay between human and structural capital, herewith a brief description of each:

 

·      Human Capital: It pertains to the knowledge, skills, and abilities of employees. It's what individuals bring to an organisation, from problem-solving skills to innovative ideas, to relationship-building capabilities (Sen, Kumar, and Biswal, 2023).

·      Structural Capital: This represents the non-human storehouses of knowledge in an organisation, like databases, organisational procedures, information systems, and corporate culture (Sen et al, 2023; Van Winkelen and and McKenzie, 2009).

 

Human Capital is indeed needed to be the driver of structural capital optimisation via the following interactions (Bouzakhem, Farmanesh, Zargar, Ramadan, Baydoun, Daouk, and Mouazen, 2023; Shrivastava, Ikonen, Savolainen, and Dorjgotov, 2021):

 

·      Knowledge Management: The effectiveness of structural capital lies in its apt utilisation. Human capital, with its inherent expertise and experience, plays a pivotal role in cataloguing, updating, and leveraging the knowledge repositories to their full potential (Markić, Požega, and Crnković, 2022).

·      Cultural Ambassadors: Organisational culture, a significant component of structural capital, is not just written in manuals but is lived daily by employees. It's the human capital that brings this culture to life, ensuring that it's more than just a set of documented ideals.

·      Continuous Improvement: Structural processes and procedures require regular updates to stay relevant. The feedback loop from employees—those at the forefront of industry changes—is invaluable in refining these processes (Tseng, Wang and Yen, 2014).

·      Innovation Through Collaboration: While structural capital can house knowledge, it is the human capital that breathes life into this knowledge. The collaborative efforts of teams can lead to novel ways of leveraging existing systems, thus optimising structural assets (Tseng, Wang and Yen, 2014).

 

There are therefore specific implications for organisations in assisting with this optimisation (Sen et al, 2023; Van Winkelen et al, 2009):

 

·      Investment in Training and Development: To ensure that human capital can effectively leverage and optimise structural capital, continuous training and skill development become imperative. An employee familiar with the latest technological systems can better harness the power of organisational databases.

·      Feedback Mechanisms: Establishing robust feedback mechanisms ensures that insights from human capital are seamlessly integrated into refining structural assets.

·      Balancing Stability and Agility: While structural capital offers stability, it's the human capital that provides agility. Organisations must find a balance, allowing structures to guide operations while also giving individuals the flexibility to innovate.

·      Retention Strategies: The optimization of structural capital is a continuous journey, and retaining experienced employees, who understand the intricacies of these structures, becomes crucial. High employee turnover can lead to a disconnect between the human and structural elements of intellectual capital.

 

While structural capital forms the backbone of an organisation, human capital serves as its lifeblood. The symbiotic relationship between the two ensures that the organisation not only preserves and stores knowledge but also uses it effectively. To optimise structural capital, businesses must focus on nurturing, developing, and retaining their human assets. In the interplay between factors, such as, human capabilities, intuition and structural processes, lies the secret ingredients of organisational success.

 

REFERENCE LIST

 

Bouzakhem, N., Farmanesh, P., Zargar, P., Ramadan, M., Baydoun, H., Daouk, A., and Mouazen, A. (2023). Rebuilding the Workplace in the Post-Pandemic Age through Human Capital Development Programs: A Moderated Mediation Model.  Administrative Sciences (2076-3387). Jul2023, Vol. 13 Issue 7.

 

Mara, C.,  Govender, C., and  Makka, A. (2021).  Contribution of Human Capital Development (Hcd) to Organisational Effectiveness in the Southern African Hospitality Industry.  African Journal of Business & Economic Research. Sep2021, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p195-214.

 

Markić, M’, Požega, Ž.,  and Crnković, B. (2022). The Impact of Knowledge Management on the Economic Indicators of the Companies. South East European Journal of Economics and Business Volume 17 (2) 2022, 34-48. 

 

Ray, C., Nyberg, A., and  Maltarich, M.A. (2023).  Human Capital Resources Emergence Theory: The Role of Social Capital.  Academy of Management Review. Apr2023, Vol. 48 Issue 2, p313-335.

 

Sen, L., Kumar, A., and Biswal, S.K. (2023).  An Inferential Response of Organizational Culture upon Human Capital Development: A Justification on the Healthcare Service Sector. Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia. Jun2023, Vol. 23 Issue 1, p208-227.

 

Shrivastava, P.,  Ikonen, M., Savolainen, T., and  Dorjgotov, E. (2021).  Developing and Sustaining Trust within Human Capital during Organisational Transformation.  Nordic Journal of Business. Autumn2021, Vol. 70 Issue 3, p207-223.

 

Tseng, J-F.,  Wang, H-K, and  Yen, Y-F. (2014). Organisational innovability: exploring the impact of human and social capital in the banking industry.  Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. 2014, Vol. 25 Issue 9/10, p1088-1104.

 

van Winkelen, C., and McKenzie, J. (2019). Using Scenarios to Explore the Potential for Shifts in the Relative Priority of Human, Structural and Relational Capital in Generating Value.  Proceedings of the European Conference on Intellectual Capital. 2009, p501-508.