Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Listening to the crew

Its not an easy thing to do but the linking of safety in the workplace with the other aspects of our lives can be benefical for companies to consider.After all we are not empty headed machines that just roll up to work with no other concerns and issues other than what is on the work agenda.Today more than ever the social aspects of our lives impact considerably upon our work expectations and experiences.Demanding that workplaces and businesses consider these aspects when choosing approaches to safety,health,wellness and environment is extremely important.

Why is it so?
Traditionally apart from alcohol and drug imapcts and more dramatic interruptions into workers lives,most companies don't want to know ...or more are unable to deal with and listen/help resolve personal and other issues in partnership with their workers.Sometimes this is purely because we do not believe such issues should effect productivity...and hence believe that inefficient workers are ones with personal problems.We want a human resource that is self managing,non demanding of our time except as in as much as it relates to performance and productivity...we ignore the fact that they are human beings at times and have greater needs than just getting paid to do a job even for the best of performing workers.Performances in workplaces are affected by the work environment,management structures,the informal and formal decisionmaking processes etc.These impacts can combine if particularly demanding circumstances are experienced at either end of the spectrum...at home or work.

How does one monitor some of the psychological and other aspects of health that impact on productivity?

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