Maintaining the Holistic Health of Employees
Sally Spencer-Thomas | October 4, 2024
Workplace ergonomics has been defined as:
Workplace ergonomics aims to reduce the risk of work-related injuries like musculoskeletal disorders while also enhancing overall employee well-being. It does this by evaluating and designing or adjusting different aspects of the workplace, like equipment, furniture, or the work process itself. Changes that can effectively reduce the risk of workplace injuries resulting from prolonged exposure to awkward positions or repetitive motions common in poorly designed workplaces. 1
The McKinsey Health Institute's 2023 survey of more than 30,000 employees across 30 countries found that employees who believed their holistic health was supported by their workplace reported increased innovation at work and improved job performance. 2
The generally accepted dimensions of holistic health include physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. A holistic approach to worker safety seeks ways to systematize stress management not just for the body but for the whole person.
How Is a Holistic Approach Possible?
Kevin Lombardo, CEO and president of DORN Companies, is a workplace safety expert known for his holistic approach to keeping workplaces safe and healthy. As a recent guest on my podcast, Headspace for the Workspace, he suggested employers think of their workers' day in reverse: They go home from work, and because of an on-the-job injury or a blowout with a coworker or manager, they are unable to pick up their grandchild or keep focused on a difficult conversation with a spouse. The next day, they bring that stress back to the workplace, where the lack of morale and heightened anxiety is only exacerbated. 3
Instead of allowing the cycle of stress to continue, if you think of your workforce as a team of what Mr. Lombardo calls "industrial athletes," you can create a holistic work environment that promotes employees' best performance by addressing what they need to recover from exertion, enhance their skills, and reach personal bests that will naturally contribute to the whole team.
"We do preventive maintenance on our equipment. Who's doing it on the employees?" asks Mr. Lombardo.
Just like we consider workspace design and motion to reduce back injuries, we can consider job design to reduce risk of burnout, trauma, sleep disruption, and family strain—all of which could lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts.
Our elite athletes know they must take a whole mind, body, and soul approach to achieve peak performance and so must our industrial athletes.
Conclusion
No matter what strategy you ultimately choose, the key to its success, says Mr. Lombardo, is to empower your workers and to include them at every level of the development and implementation of your holistic plan for their well-being.
"You will find you have optimally performing employees; people who are happy and healthy at home and at work. It bridges all the gaps," he said.
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