A colleague lost her job yesterday. She was told that she didn’t play well with others at work and that her attitude was a bit curt. I was her first phone call. After a long deep discussion, we entered into the “reality zone.” That’s where she was pretty honest about how unhappy she was in her job and was thinking of entirely changing careers to sink her teeth into her real vocation of being an animal activist.
The capital was the meeting place as the American Psychological Association honored companies which have risen to the occasion, making the workplace a bit more manageable in a time of tumult. It’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards were handed out to five organizations for their efforts to “promote employee health and well-being while enhancing organizational performance.”
Employees are putting in longer work hours, have lousy so-called “work life balance” and a bundle of fear about losing their jobs.That’s the work life landscape in a nutshell according to a number of recent reports including a joint survey by Watson Wyatt Worldwide and the National Business Group on Health.
Most inspirational or leadership philosophies teach us to look at the chaotic challenges around us at work and in business, as for opportunities for growth. But let’s take it a step further and look at them as opportunities to identify the stress triggers and raise our “stress awareness” at work.
The merging of the working and living experience goes well beyond our WorkLife Nation. A quick review of the global economy reveals that the quest for work life balance is a slamming debate no matter the continent. many fear burnout is on the horizon.
ecently I was in a workplace the day of a massive layoff. An entire division was shut down. I’m not getting into details to keep confidentiality, and respect the privacy of those who had to find work elsewhere.
In an exceptionally healthy workplace in the 90′s, an on-site gym, cleaner organic food in the company cafeteria, and the occasional chair massage might have been the norm. These days, since workers are more concerned with keeping their jobs than putting on a few extra pounds, it’s a different story. One could argue it ‘s just as important to feel good – as to look good – mentally and physically.
The jobless rate hit a new 26 year high and it appears that big business is resigned to the prediction that it will be a long haul. But a new survey by global consulting firm, Watson Wyatt, suggests that the bloodletting will eventually subside as companies simply can’t operate efficiently if they cut anymore to the bone.
This lack of confidence in management and company values only perpetuates poor morale, thus creating a toxic workplace. The lack of communication then fuels consternation, water cooler gossip and general bad vibes between the rank and file.
With a Super Bowl lead-in, NBC’s “The Office” took the opportunity to touch upon the growing epidemic that’s sweeping the workplace globally in the wake of the economic meltdown. Stress at work.
