It’s a curious thing if you think about it—the process most people go through when they apply for a job. After meeting with the hiring manager, you visit with top-level supervisors. They do their best to explain what your duties will be. However, they are typically not the persons actively participating in that role. Often, it is only when landing the job you are introduced to coworkers or shown your actual work area. In those early days you cannot know how the work environment will impact your mental health.
In new positions, we are required to interact with people we do not know. Most of us will be around coworkers most of our day. The workplace culture can directly contribute to or detract from our sense of well-being. Over time, these occupational circumstances can act be a force bringing positive or negative changes to the way we see the world. Due to the difficulty in finding a good employer, most of us do whatever it takes to stay! Yet, despite these challenges, it is essential to be mindful of how our work environment impacts our mental health and to advocate for ourselves when necessary.
When Work is a Battlefield
Most individuals need their jobs to pay for the basic necessities of life. And anyone who goes through the hiring process can attest to the rigor and stress job-searching can be. From updating your CV, to writing individual cover letters, to rounds of interviews- it is a taxing process. Yet once we settle somewhere and the training is over, we may begin to notice behaviors in our work environment that concern us. For example, have you ever:
Experienced Disrespect From A Manager
It could be micromanaging, talking to you in a derogatory tone, or nit-picking everything you do. Feeling not valued can have a direct result on your mental well-being. It can cause shame and humiliation, even panic attacks. If we do not possess a healthy amount of self-esteem, this treatment can make us feel powerless and stuck.
Had Unreasonable Work Expectations
Many employers expect workers to spend more time on the job than in their personal lives. Even then, some are asked to work overtime or have more work assigned to than can be done in eight hours. Paradoxically, most studies have concluded humans are only truly productive 3-6 hours per day. Many of us feel burnt out and stressed. It’s easy to see how this type of work environment could impact our mental health.
Been Required to Manage Constant Pressure
Similar to being made to work too many hours, the psychological load some positions require are insidious.Whether it is lack of staffing, management taking stress out on subordinates, some workplaces cause intense pressure for employees.This type of work environment is bound to wear down even the healthiest of individuals.
Felt a Lack of Appreciation
Some employers feel because they are paying you, they do not have to necessarily be mindful of your emotions. Moreover, instead of treating employees like human beings, they treat you like an object. When this happens, it invokes feelings of deep anger and resentment from workers. Many of us will take that energy home. The results are snapping at our loved ones, overeating or drinking, and poor quality of sleep.
Experienced Bullying, Harassment, or Assault
In the worst of circumstances, some work environments impact our mental health for the rest of our lives. In some agencies sexual harassment, discrimination, rampant gossip, nepotism, ageism, misogyny, and many other detrimental practices go unchecked. If you find yourself in a situation where you do not feel safe, speak to someone you trust. In some cases, that may be human resources, law enforcement, or a dear friend. Make a plan to address your physical and psychological safety.
The Potential for Real Consequences
Have you experienced a work environment that made you deeply unhappy? But stayed because you felt there was no choice? We all feel the acute responsibility for providing for ourselves or our loved ones. However, there is a real danger in not listening to your body if you are experiencing an unsafe workplace.
Consequences of some work environments on our mental health will be severe if we do not seek help. Some negative outcomes include depression, anxiety, eroded self-worth, panic disorder, sleep disruption, irritability, lack of confidence, hopelessness, or suicidal ideation. In order to combat these maladies, consider the following steps to maintain a healthier outlook in your workplace:
Speak Up for Yourself
Although you might be shy the first week on the job, it’s important to speak up early to those around you. Use good judgment when communicating with managers or supervisors. Sometimes it will be most effective to speak with them privately. Other times you may need to email a superior or human resources. It is always good to use “I” statements when navigating conflict. It is a good idea to prep for these times by looking up appropriate phrases. For example, “Because I value working in a professional environment, I want to share feelings I am having about (name the person, situation, or policy). It is my hope that in communicating my perspective on these things, and learning yours, we can come up with a solution that assists the whole team.”
Draw Firm Boundaries
It is important when navigating your work environment and considering the impact it has on your mental health, to clearly articulate boundaries. You will notice the people who feel the most uncomfortable, are usually the ones this would benefit most. Of course, there will be circumstances when coworkers or supervisors override the clear parameters you have set. Nevertheless, keeping a calm demeanor, managing your tone of voice, and speaking assertively is usually the most effective way of reiterating what you may have already said. If a coworker or employer continues to violate your boundaries, you may need to take steps to address it. Or, consequently, seek another job.
Explore Your Limiting Beliefs
In order to make the best decisions we need to tend to ourselves on a consistent basis. Workplaces can trigger us much in the same way as family dynamics can. Understanding who we are, processing our traumas, and developing self-love is key to honestly addressing our limiting beliefs. Why are many of us scared to look for another job if the one we have is not serving us? Are we afraid we are not deserving? Do we have other life circumstances not being dealt with, so we feel overwhelmed? We are NEVER stuck, except in the traps we make in our own minds.
We Can Invoke Positive Change
In conclusion, although it is necessary for many to have a job, we are not required to be miserable. We can control some aspects of our work environment and the impact it has on our mental health. Speaking up, drawing firm boundaries, and exploring our limiting beliefs will cultivate a work culture that addresses stress and negative behaviors. Ultimately, developing these skills will help us in all aspects of our life.