Why we can’t improve well-being* Why we can’t improve well-being*

A Critical PerspectiveA Critical PerspectiveCraig A. Jackson Prof. of Workplace Psychology

Division of PsychologyBirmingham City University

*not in a recession anyway*not in a recession anyway

Well-BeingWell-Being

• A euphemism for “Psychological well-being”A euphemism for “Psychological well-being”

. . . Being OK. . . Being OK

. . . Symptom-free. . . Symptom-free

. . . Functioning. . . Functioning

. . . Getting the job done. . . Getting the job done

. . . Without excessive complaint . . . Without excessive complaint

21st Century World of Work – more complex than ever before21st Century World of Work – more complex than ever before

• Illness + Disease FocusedIllness + Disease Focused

• Health & Safety ObsessedHealth & Safety Obsessed

• Market-forces DominatedMarket-forces Dominated

• Quality Management DrivenQuality Management Driven

• SMEs PredominantSMEs Predominant

• Mass productionMass production

• Low Skills or Training required = low payLow Skills or Training required = low pay

Global companies and operationsGlobal companies and operations Leaner managersLeaner managers

Meaner managersMeaner managers Gender issuesGender issues

Disability issuesDisability issues Migrant issuesMigrant issues

Longer working hoursLonger working hoursFewer fixed hoursFewer fixed hours

Unpaid workingUnpaid working Shorter contractsShorter contracts

Dirty jobs out-sourcedDirty jobs out-sourced

The New Millennium – The Existential AgeThe New Millennium – The Existential Age

What do we have?What do we have?

• StressStress

• Post Traumatic Stress DisorderPost Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Chronic Fatigue SyndromeChronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Multiple Chemical SensitivityMultiple Chemical Sensitivity

• Diffuse Pain Syndromes (RSI, MSD, WI)Diffuse Pain Syndromes (RSI, MSD, WI)

• Non-Specific Effect ModifiersNon-Specific Effect Modifiers

• Psycho-immunologyPsycho-immunology

FatigueFatigue

Somatic symptomsSomatic symptoms

Sleep disturbanceSleep disturbance

AnxietyAnxiety

MSDsMSDs

DepressionDepression

CardiovascularCardiovascular

AccidentsAccidents

QoLQoL

Well-beingWell-being

NeurobehaviouralNeurobehavioural

Going beyond contemporary concerns about stress….Going beyond contemporary concerns about stress….

Things have changed in the workplaceThings have changed in the workplace

What workers expectWhat workers expect

FlexibilityFlexibility

AutonomyAutonomy

PensionsPensions

Education / Training Education / Training

SupportSupport

AdvancementAdvancement

SecuritySecurity

PerksPerks

Respect Respect

FinancialFinancial

StatusStatus

Reasonable expectations?Reasonable expectations?

Achievable ?Achievable ?

Affordable ?Affordable ?

Dissatisfied workforce?Dissatisfied workforce?

Aggrieved employees?Aggrieved employees?

Unmotivated staff ?Unmotivated staff ?

Things have changed in the workplace ...Some things have notThings have changed in the workplace ...Some things have not

Some problems never leave usSome problems never leave us

Conditions are the same todayConditions are the same today

Views and values have changed Views and values have changed enormouslyenormously

Creating problems and solutions is Creating problems and solutions is an industryan industry

The Office Experience . . . Top 5 “downers”The Office Experience . . . Top 5 “downers”

5.5.

2.2.

3.3.4.4.

1.1.

Health & Well-being as commodityHealth & Well-being as commodity

Morally priced out of the marketMorally priced out of the market

Health now becomes commoditized Health now becomes commoditized

Therefore prone to market forcesTherefore prone to market forces

Efficiency model of health, rather than moral imperativeEfficiency model of health, rather than moral imperative

Economic models don’t work as well as moral models Economic models don’t work as well as moral models e.g. blood salese.g. blood sales

Kerching!!!!Kerching!!!!

Work-Life Balance?Work-Life Balance?

Is this a reality?

More of us working from home

More of us working on-the-road

“Work-Life Balance”

“Life-Work Balance”

Romanticism of Sentimentality (especially in hard times)Romanticism of Sentimentality (especially in hard times)

Things were . . .Things were . . .

easiereasier

flexibleflexible

informalinformal

customizablecustomizable

self-governedself-governed

funfun

Long Working HoursLong Working Hours

““Workaholism”Workaholism”

Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, UKJapan, South Korea, Indonesia, UK(Karojisatsu)(Karojisatsu)

uninterrupted heavy workload

heavy physical work

excessive demands from irregular overtime and shift work

excessive workloads from emotional stress, such as responsibility, transfers, and conflicts

• irregular sleep habits• decreases in rest• decrease social time• alcohol abuse• increased smoking• unhealthy diet• neglecting medical checks• breakdown in family life

IatrogenesisIatrogenesis

Induced inadvertently by the medical treatment or procedures orInduced inadvertently by the medical treatment or procedures oractivity, examination, manner or discussion of a physician. activity, examination, manner or discussion of a physician.

The term is now applied to any adverse condition in a patient The term is now applied to any adverse condition in a patient occurring as the result of treatment by a physician or surgeon, (e.g.occurring as the result of treatment by a physician or surgeon, (e.g.acquired infections)acquired infections)

Difficult to Access PopulationsDifficult to Access Populations

• Disenfranchised / Excluded peopleDisenfranchised / Excluded people

• Research-Poor occupationsResearch-Poor occupationse.g. cleaners, au pairs, farm workerse.g. cleaners, au pairs, farm workers

• Disabled workersDisabled workers

• Migrant communitiesMigrant communities

• Immigrant workersImmigrant workers

• Illegal cash workersIllegal cash workers

• Voluntary workersVoluntary workers

CommutingCommuting

CommutingCommuting

““Cattle Truck Syndrome”Cattle Truck Syndrome”

Chronic health problems exacerbated Chronic health problems exacerbated by train travel?by train travel?

Cumulative impact theoryCumulative impact theory

Increased B.P, Anxiety, Chronic Heart ConditionsIncreased B.P, Anxiety, Chronic Heart Conditions

Over-crowded trains / busesOver-crowded trains / busesStraining public transport systemStraining public transport systemLack of controlLack of control

““People develop a constant internal People develop a constant internal anger on crowded trains that they anger on crowded trains that they

cannot easily displace…an cannot easily displace…an individual's immune system could individual's immune system could

also be suppressed by stress, also be suppressed by stress, making passengers more making passengers more susceptible to illnesses”susceptible to illnesses”

Obesity & Odd Body ShapesObesity & Odd Body Shapes

Different problems but similar anthropometric outcomesDifferent problems but similar anthropometric outcomes

Poor-fitting PPEPoor-fitting PPE

Ergonomic problemsErgonomic problems

Equipment modifications requiredEquipment modifications required

Exposure abnormalities e.g. welding plumeExposure abnormalities e.g. welding plume

Depression / Ennui / DespairDepression / Ennui / Despair

Obesity & Techno-DeclineObesity & Techno-Decline

Anti-Social Networking SitesAnti-Social Networking Sites

No longer “safe” at your own workstationsNo longer “safe” at your own workstations

Luke WilliamsI think they do spoil relationships & cause alot of arguments at work. My g/f has facebook (i do 2) and she seems 2 add more bois thn gals n the otha day i was lookin at hers at work, n thers a new boi on ther n it sez thy hooked up n she sed she dnt kno who it is, i dnt kno wot 2 think? We also argue bare bout it...so i think it does cause problems.

Vocal HygieneVocal Hygiene

Golden Age of CommunicationGolden Age of Communication

Most jobs have increased vocal useMost jobs have increased vocal use

Vocal load “unaware”Vocal load “unaware”

Equipment modifications requiredEquipment modifications required

Exacerbated by stress, alcohol, exposureExacerbated by stress, alcohol, exposure

NOTICEOUR STAFF HAVE

THE RIGHT TOWORK IN AN

ENVIRONMENT FREEFROM VIOLENCE

We will prosecuteanyone found abusing

or threatening employees

Violence (and the night time economy)Violence (and the night time economy)

Violent incidents at work Violent incidents at work 655,000 in 2004/05 - 655,000 in 2004/05 - British Crime Survey (2005)British Crime Survey (2005)

Steady fall in work violence since peak of 1.3 million incidents in 1995 Steady fall in work violence since peak of 1.3 million incidents in 1995

3% of workplace violence from former employees3% of workplace violence from former employees20% is from current employees20% is from current employees77% of physical and verbal attacks from strangers or customers.77% of physical and verbal attacks from strangers or customers.

Common causes include:Common causes include:• Those wanting immediate attentionThose wanting immediate attention• Dissatisfaction with (lack of) attention / treatment received Dissatisfaction with (lack of) attention / treatment received • Dissatisfaction with inappropriate treatment receivedDissatisfaction with inappropriate treatment received• RobberyRobbery

Remote / Isolated WorkingRemote / Isolated Working

‘‘any situation or location in which someone works without a colleagueany situation or location in which someone works without a colleaguenearby; or when someone is working out of sight or earshot of anothernearby; or when someone is working out of sight or earshot of anothercolleague’colleague’

Field operativesField operatives Sales Sales DriversDrivers

Lack of immediate assistance available to Lack of immediate assistance available to the worker;the worker;illnessillness accidents accidents personal safety personal safety

Social workersSocial workers JanitorsJanitorsDistrict nursesDistrict nurses DriversDriversFilling stationsFilling stations ShopsShopsHome workersHome workers SecuritySecurityReceptionistsReceptionists TeachersTeachersCleanersCleaners EngineersEngineers

Can We Achieve Psychological Well-Being in Workplaces?Can We Achieve Psychological Well-Being in Workplaces?

• ChemicalsChemicals• GassesGasses• DustsDusts• ParticlesParticles• LightLight• HeatHeat• NoiseNoise• VibrationVibration• StressStress• RadiationRadiation• Slips, trips, fallsSlips, trips, falls• Working hoursWorking hours• ErgonomicsErgonomics

Not if we Not if we (A) Focus on health as commodity(A) Focus on health as commodity(B) Don’t sort out the psychosocial (B) Don’t sort out the psychosocial

messmess

The Pre-Stress & Post-Stress EconomyThe Pre-Stress & Post-Stress Economy

Pre-Stress EconomyPre-Stress Economy Stress EconomyStress Economy Post-Stress Post-Stress EconomyEconomy

““Leave your problems Leave your problems “Your problems are “Your problems are “Work – Life balance”“Work – Life balance”at home”at home” work’s problems” work’s problems”

““Leave you problems Leave you problems “Your problems are “Your problems are “Work – Life balance”“Work – Life balance”at work”at work” work’s problems” work’s problems”

““Don’t bring your problems home Don’t bring your problems home from work, ‘cos I don’t wanna from work, ‘cos I don’t wanna know!”know!”