Health/Wellness
Take the Work Health quizA leading work-health management company is challenging employees to use the new February 18 Family Day holiday as a catalyst to start thinking about ways to improve work-health balance year-round. |
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 [ 2008-02-13 ] |
(Comstock)
According to Watson Wyatt, 48% of employers say that the stress created by long hours, and doing more with fewer resources, is negatively impacting business performance to a great extent. Yet only 5% of organizations are taking any action to address these areas. Banyan Work Health Solutions is therefore encouraging employees to take ownership of the situation and drive change.
Work-health balance is the term Banyan describes as striving for a healthy workplace that is also conducive to the employee's well-being. Poor work-health balance is often the underlying reason causing employees on disability leave to be hesitant about returning to work.
"Employees need to be direct about their needs and really be honest with themselves," says Sue Philchuk, vice-president of Banyan Work Health Solutions. "Learn to put your hand up. Demonstrate your willingness to be flexible with your employer. Most importantly, come to the table with strategies and potential solutions to your workplace issues. If you find yourself struggling, learn what's available in the market to assist you in this process."
In honour of Family Day, Banyan has designed the Work Health Challenge for employees to identify if their work-health balance is in check:
1. I have NOT had a sense of excitement about my work in the last six months.
2. I have relationship problems at work that I do not see being able to improve or impact.
3. I have no clear career goals; I am coasting right now.
4. I regularly worry that I am about to be laid off or fired.
5. If it was not for my compensation and company's benefit package I would have already found another job.
6. I know my job/company is not a good fit for me, but I don't believe it will be better anywhere else.
7. I secretly wish my boss or my colleague would leave, quit or be fired.
8. Work has become something I need to do for money; I do not expect satisfaction from my job.
9. I have never really enjoyed work, so moving to an new employer/job does not strike me as a solution to how I feel about work.
10. I go to bed/wake up feeling anxious about going to work.
If you have answered YES to more than three of these questions, chances are you in the wrong job or not a good fit with your company. You are also likely vulnerable to developing health issues associated with job dissatisfaction.
If you answered YES to #2, #7 or #10, you might benefit from external assistance to address job satisfaction problems related to workplace stress or conflict.
How many hours a week do you work?