The workplace, like society in general, is ever evolving and
changing. The challenge of incorporating a more diverse
approach to hiring, for example, has gained traction over
time. Also, recognizing the needs of divergent generations
in one workplace is a second example of workplace evolution.
However, one of the more recent and perhaps most important
issues facing the workplace today is the idea of providing a psy-chologically
healthy and safe workplace.
According to the report The Evolution of Workplace Mental
Health in Canada:
“One of the largest evolutionary shifts that occurred in the
landscape of workplace mental health over the last decade has
been the 2013 release of the National Standard of Canada
for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the
Standard). The Standard has provided a definition of what
constitutes a psychologically safe system of work – a defini-tion
currently lacking in the law. The significance of the stated
vision of the Standard lies in its call for the avoidance of rea-sonably
foreseeable harm – through the establishment of a
psychologically safe system of work – as the base level of care
to which employers should aspire.”
The good news is that attitudinal shifts are occurring in the
workplace and attempts are being made at HR and other lev-els
to address the mental health needs of employees. However,
with increased information, programs, recognition and perhaps
more compassion in the workplace about mental health, HR
still needs to motivate and encourage managers to change their
behaviours at the ground level. Policies are one thing, but prac-tice
is another.
health & safety
Helping the Helpers
EMPLOYERS ARE LEARNING THE BENEFITS OF A
PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT
By Joel Kranc
lightwise / 123RF Stock Photo
HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA ❚ MAY 2018 ❚ 31
