Psychology is an area of study that focuses on human behavior, helping to understand how people think, act and react in different situations.
When it comes to business and the workplace, psychology can have a significant impact on a company’s success and productivity.
A well-managed team, with motivated and mentally healthy individuals, can lead to greater efficiency in the execution of tasks and projects.
In addition, it can help resolve conflicts, promote effective communication and encourage teamwork.
The importance of having psychology services in your company
Having psychology in a company is very important and benefits companies and their employees in many ways:
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Improved employee well-being: when employees ‘ psychological needs are met, such as the need for recognition, emotional support and respect, they tend to be more engaged and productive at work.
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Helps to identify mental health problems that can negatively affect an employee’s working life, such as depression and anxiety.
By providing appropriate support and referrals, companies can help their employees deal with mental health problems and improve their quality of life. -
Helping to increase productivity through effective time and task management.
Through the study of motivation, psychology can help create an environment that encourages employees to achieve their goals and maximize their efficiency.
Psychological Health Problems at Work
The emergence of psychosocial risks
Psychosocial risks are those aspects of a company and its working environment that can have a negative impact on employees from a psychosocial point of view.
These are currently one of the biggest concerns related to the physical and mental health of workers.
Generally speaking, these risks can be named:
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Occupational stress;
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Harassment (moral and sexual);
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Violence at work;
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Burnout syndrome;
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Addition to work;
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Fatigue;
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Mental load at work, as well as emotional work.
On the other hand, the psychosocial risks that have the greatest impact on employees’ physical and psychological well-being are:
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Related to work tasks: what the worker does is boring and doesn’t stimulate them intellectually; excessive workload; lack of autonomy and constant control over what the worker does; performing dangerous tasks.
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Related to work organization: excessive workload; shift work; few and short rest breaks; contradictory orders from superiors.
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Related to the structure of the company: poor internal communication; conflicts between workers in different departments; lack of opportunity for professional growth and salary; no or low compensation.
It is commonly assumed that workers’ psychological problems develop outside the workplace.
However, a dysfunctional and unhealthy workplace creates high levels of stress in employees, which can be the source of their psychological health problems.
In this way, psychosocial risks translate into a set of harmful consequences for employees (personal and family suffering, physical illnesses, mental illnesses such as depression or burnout, among others), employers and organizations (absenteeism, absenteeism, reduced productivity and quality of work, health costs, among others).
Our services – Mental Health and Well-being at Work Program
The main aim of the current program is to promote psychological health, well-being and performance.
It aims to develop and promote psychological resources and skills among workers in order to maintain or improve their well-being and performance throughout the working period.
With this program it is hoped that workers will acquire skills and resources that will enable them to manage their stress levels and anxiety and apply the knowledge gained to promote their mental health and well-being, optimizing their performance as much as possible.
What do we do?
This program is based on psychological models based on scientific evidence, namely the cognitive-behavioral psychological model, concepts of positive occupational health and psychological models of well-being (Carol Ryff).
It covers different topics such as:
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Self-care and healthy lifestyle habits(balanced diet, sleep hygiene, physical exercise);
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Stress and anxiety management (specifically in performance) which includes the application of relaxation techniques and emotion regulation;
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Positive relationships and communication skills; work-family balance strategies;
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Motivation and attention;
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Resilience.
Psychology and Psychosocial Risk Assessment
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Assessment of psychosocial risks in the workplace;
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Psychological intervention in stress management and in crisis and emergency situations;
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Training, information and awareness-raising actions on the prevention of different psychosocial risks;
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Promoting mental health and performance in the workplace;
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Issuing periodic reports integrating the activity’s statistical data.
Legal framework
The reference documents on occupational health in Portugal are as follows:
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Law no. 102/2009, of September 10 (Regulates the legal framework for the promotion and prevention of health and safety at work):
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Adapting work to the individual, especially with regard to the design of workstations, the choice of work equipment and working and production methods, with a view, in particular, to reducing monotonous and repetitive work and reducing psychosocial risks (Article 15(2)(e)).
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Law no. 98/2009, of September 4 (Regulates the system of compensation for accidents at work and occupational diseases, including professional rehabilitation and reintegration):
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In the event of an accident at work, the right to compensation provides for benefits that include: psychological assistance, when recognized as necessary by the attending physician (Article 25, 2); as well as psychotherapeutic support, whenever necessary, for the injured party’s family (Article 25, 1, j).
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In short, psychology is a powerful tool that can help improve the productivity and well-being of employees, as well as the overall effectiveness of the company.
By investing in psychology in the workplace, companies can create a positive environment that values and encourages their employees, leading to greater success and job satisfaction.
With SEPRI you can have your psychosocial risks assessed and be presented with an intervention proposal tailored to your needs, which may include everything from training/awareness-raising activities and workshops to support in terms of individual psychological intervention. Contact us.
