“Here again HR talks about mental health at work” …
We may not have heard this phrase so many times, but it certainly has been repeated in thought by many leaders. But this mentality is losing ground: the importance of employee well-being is now the main agenda, not only for the human resources of companies, but for the leadership directly connected to the teams.
Seeing their employees exhausted, organizations are moving, as pointed out this relationship of the Unbox project.
Is this the result of the pandemic, which has opened up the question of mental health? Is it because burnout was considered an accident at work when I became ICD-11? Or is it a natural evolution of society, with generation Z increasingly attentive and critical of the work model practiced by companies? Regardless of the reason, it is clear that structural changes must take place in the corporate culture.
Since the Industrial Revolution, in the 19th century, the value of man has been linked to his success in work. In fact, a curiosity about it: before, depending on the times, work was the exclusive function of slaves or servants. The Enlightenment introduced the evaluation of intellectual work, but even so other works, such as the manual, were the task of the less well off.
Having your prestige connected to work, it is natural to participate in a race to be successful, right? This explains that exhaustion is so romantic and such a busy schedule that she doesn’t realize it’s synonymous with productivity. But is this really productivity? Not being able to attend all meetings, meeting all requests on time, and being constantly tired means being productive? Certainly not.
So why does corporate culture reinforce this so much?
Extracting the maximum potential from employees and demanding from them the notorious “resilience”, without considering the moments of recovery (breaks in everyday life and mental rest after periods of stress), we move in the opposite direction to what we are trying to achieve: productivity, profit and growth.
A counterproductive work model has been practiced for at least two centuries, in which the desired results can also be obtained, but at what cost? High turnover rates, disengaged and even sick employees. Is it worth it?
Until recently, we have “died for a paycheck,” to paraphrase Jeffrey Pfeffer, an American theorist and professor of organizational behavior at Stanford. But whatever the reason, today we are no longer willing to put up with everything for the monthly payment.
The work environment, the relationship with colleagues and managers, and financial and social recognition are carefully evaluated by employees in the climate surveys and by candidates in the selection processes. A toxic culture, which does not value its employees as individuals, can discourage employees. and potential, making the task of retaining and attracting people increasingly difficult. Here we have one more reason to revolutionize the culture of the corporate world.
Companies expect the best people to deliver the best results, So, nothing is fairer than providing the best possible working environment. And here it is not a question of arcades and yoga classes, but of a healthy culture that guides and directs the ways of working and relating in the company.
To speak of cultural transformation is to speak of personal transformation. After all, a culture is a set of behaviors, beliefs and customs of a social group. In other words, the group must be aligned with the purpose of building this healthy environment, because only then can we achieve this new format of organizational culture.
The task is difficult, but bringing reflection to the table is a good start. It is time to admit that we do not know the ideal path and to listen to employees from the most diverse areas, positions, backgrounds and opinions to build this new mold of culture together.
Ana Paula Mendes dos Santos is a mental health and wellness specialist at Grupo Conexa.
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
