Facilitate an effective team discussion about addressing and improving psychological competencies and demands in your workplace. The intended outcome is to create a practical and cost-effective action plan that works for your team.
A 2021 survey of 5,500 working Canadians by Mental Health Research Canada found that only 39% of respondents feel their employer has prepared them for the psychological demands of their job (Mental Health Research Canada, 2021).
Psychological competencies and demands
In a work environment where psychological competencies and demands are not a health risk, employees are continually supported to meet the psychological demands of their position.
In an organization with positive psychological competencies and demands, employees might say:
- Management appointments consider the “people skills” necessary for specific positions.
- I am able to do my job in a way that aligns with my values.
In an organization with positive psychological competencies and demands, employees might NOT say:
- My work threatens my psychological health.
Creating awareness: A team discussion
Engage your entire team in reviewing the factors that impact psychological health and safety in your workplace. This approach is recommended by the National Standard of Canada on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. By doing this, you build awareness of the responsibility of each employee to contribute to a positive workplace culture. You also get their involvement in developing and being part of the solution.
Creating change: Facilitating policy development
This session builds on employee ideas developed in the Creating awareness workshop. The next step is to engage decision makers in reviewing employee suggestions against evidence- or practice-based approaches. The objective is to modify or create policies and procedures that improve psychological competencies and demands for your organization.
Evidence-based actions for psychological competencies and demands
Suggested actions are based on research or practice that can improve each psychosocial factor shown. In most cases, free resources are provided to help you move forward, with or without additional funding.
Each of the psychosocial factors identified in Guarding Minds at Work and the National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace have similar resources that can be found in the On the agenda workshop series.
Share this page with anyone who is a leader that wants to ensure they’re properly preparing their employees for the psychological competencies and demands of the job.