The Centre for Workplace Engagement (CWE) offers restorative practice services for workplaces.
Its services include support for organizations so they can respond well when there is conflict disrupting workplace life, and help for employers in becoming aware of and implementing the Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the workplace.
The CSA standard for Psychological Health and Safety states, “employers have a duty to take all reasonable steps to protect workers from being injured in the workplace, both physically and mentally. So they must ensure that the workplace is “psychologically safe” – that is, free from hazards such as harassment, discrimination, bullying, violence and mental stress that could cause harm to workers’ mental health.”
To help workplaces create such a psychologically safe environment, the CWE offers training for CEOs and other senior management, managers, supervisors, team leaders, staff groups and Human Resources staff.
Recently, a half-day workshop, entitled Workplace Engagement: Toward a Healthy and Productive Workplace, was held at the Cobourg Best Western on September 21, 2017.
Wondering whether such a workshop would be helpful for your organization? Here are some questions to ask about your workplace: Is conflict dragging employees and the business down? Are gossip, negativity, cliques and backbiting part of daily workplace life? Are they affecting employee relationships and productivity? Does your workplace have a high employee turnover? Do people show up at work but aren’t as productive as they could be or, as they are expected to be? Do you have specific conflicts that need to be addressed? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” a workshop like this one can help.
According to this graphic about psychological safety, mental health issues are the most common reason employees need short-term disability. There is an average of 72 workdays lost to short-term disability due to mental health problems, compared to the number of days lost due to heart disease (37), back pain (37) or diabetes (26).
Mental health disability leaves cost approximately $51 billion a year in Canada in health care and work disruption. In addition, stress contributes to many physical health problems. Stress, including workplace stress, is known to carry negative health consequences including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, as well as immune and circulatory complications.
If mental injuries caused by the actions of employers were prevented, it could save $2.97 to $11 billion annually in Canada.
When businesses adopt policies and programs to address psychological safety and health, they incur 15% to 33% fewer costs related to psychological health issues.
The CSA standard encourages workplaces to take responsibility for the psychological health and well-being of their employees. Psychological safety is essential for providing good mental health in the workplace.
How does a workplace create a safe space for employees? How can a workplace afford to invest the time and money to ensure employees’ psychological health and safety? What would this look like?
The Centre for Workplace Engagement provides workplaces with ways to implement the CSA standard and to create a safe space.
To find out more or to set up a training session for your workplace, give Anne Martin a call at 647-986-8297 or email Anne.
Anne Martin is the Director of Consulting Services for the Centre For Workplace Engagement, and Director of Restorative Practice Services at Shalem.