With increasingly competitive and fast-paced modern workplaces, workplace stress is widespread, affecting not just employees but productivity within organisations. Workplace pressures, like deadlines, targets, job insecurities, poor management, etc. can take their toll on employees health and well-being.

Employers who neglect to consider the emotional needs of their workers risk losing staff, staff sickness, absenteeism and poor productivity.

The Impact of Workplace Stress

• Decreased job satisfaction
• Absenteeism
• Increased levels of sick leave
• Burnout
• Higher turnover rates
• Fatigue (from poor sleep)
• Performance issues – reduced efficiency, poor decision-making, reduced creativity, etc.

Emotional Needs in the Workplace

As humans, we thrive when our innate emotional needs are well met in balance in our lives.

As we tend to spend a considerable chunk of our lives working, we need to be able to get those needs met, not only through our relationships and activities outside of work but also in the workplace. A good work : life balance is really important for well-being , not just in terms of balance of work and leisure time but also the quality of that time in terms of how our needs are met.

What are these needs?

Autonomy

A sense of having some control and autonomy with respect to our work. Managers or supervisors who micromanage can unwittingly damage relationships and undermine confidence, stifle creativity, etc. A healthy workplace allows employees to develop a degree of autonomy, to bring new ideas and ways of doing things. – which may be better than or just as good as the old way, but which brings a sense of autonomy and control which promotes well-being.  Offering choice where practicable e.g. flexibility re working from home, working hours, etc. fosters this sense of autonomy and builds trust.

Attention

Workplaces can be lonely places. Whether working from home or at the office /other workplace, working in isolation without any interaction with other people day after day can take its toll. Opportunities for giving and receiving attention through interaction with colleagues , feeling that you have a voice and your voice is heard, being able to ask for help, offer suggestions, work collaboratively – all contribute to meeting our needs for attention and to interact with others.

Privacy

On the other hand, there can be too many demands on our attention in the workplace. There can demanding customers, phones ringing, overwhelming numbers of emails, messages, interuptions, noise, etc. Overwhelming demands on our attention can seriously interfere with our ability to concentrate and complete tasks. We need balance – time and space to be quiet, become calm, reflect or reset. A healthy workplace will understand the importance of providing a quiet space for short breaks – especially where office space is shared and private space is limited.

Teamwork

One of our innate emotional needs is to feel a sense of belonging . We may get this from a loving, supportive family, friend groups, community groups, sports teams, etc. and through the workplace. This is about being part of a team, working together with the same aims, having similar values, collaborating with a common purpose.

Respect and Recognition

From the CEO, to the new recruit, to the cleaner, all the varying roles in the organisation have their value and the people in the roles need to know their work is appreciated. By creating an inclusive and supportive work culture, employees can feel valued and respected.  Opportunites to give and receive feedback and recognition are important, as are promotion opportunities.

Meaning and Purpose

Our work can provide a huge sense of meaning and purpose if it is a job that we feel is worthwhile with values that align with our own. Some people can get a sense of purpose from the fact of being in employment, working hard and being paid for that work. For others however there can be a mismatch between the job and the person’s values. Sometimes a job can feel meaningless and employees can feel like cogs in a wheel. However mundane a job may be, employers can find creative ways to provide perks and incentives for the workforce. Providing opportunities for training, mentorship or career advancement can enhance a sense of meaning and greater investment.

Achievement

It is vitally important to feel that sense of achievement in the workplace. Opportunities to learn, to progress, to move forward, take on new challenges and celebrate achievments, all help to provide a sense of personal growth.  Endless targets, unreasonable deadlines, unachievable workloads all ensure that employees fail and expect to continue to fail to meet standards. This is totally demoralising and striving to do the impossible creates huge stress on employees. Negotiated goals with flexibility and empathic understanding can keep morale high and employees motivated.

Safety and Security

Total job security is very rare these days and perhaps unrealistic to expect. But care can be taken to ensure that employees can feel safe and well protected in other ways. There should be no tolerance of harrassment, bullying or discrimination and clear protocols for dealing with such incidences. Senior staff should be approachable, understanding and empathetic, creating a safe space for employees to express concerns or seek guidance or support.

When all these emotional needs are met, employees are likely to be well motivated and committed to their work and giving their best.

On the other hand, ignoring these needs can lead to a toxic workplace, deterimental to health and well-being of the whole workforce with consequent poor performance.

Making emotional well-being a priority is not only a compassionate approach but a smart strategy for efficiency and sustainability in the workplace.