Psychologically healthy workplaces pay off for both employees and employers, David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, told participants at the 10th annual Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards ceremony at the State Leadership Conference in March.
Ninety-four percent of employees at the award-winning organizations — which promote work/life balance, health and safety, employee growth and development, employee recognition and employee involvement — report that they feel motivated to do their best compared with just 70 percent of employees nationally.
What's more, the award winners' employee turnover rate is almost half the national average, said Ballard, APA's assistant executive director for organizational excellence.
Bad leadership is one reason so many employees aren't engaged in their work, said keynoter Betsy Myers, author of the 2012 book "Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You."
"The No. 1 reason people leave jobs is their boss," said Myers. "People don't leave a company, they leave a boss."
Myers offered three tips for being a better leader. First, she said, take the time to make employees feel included, valued and part of something bigger than themselves. Second, recognize that you don't have all the answers and ask employees what's going right, what needs to be improved and how you can help make their work and lives better. Third, be rigorous in your pursuit of self-knowledge, asking yourself and those around you what's not working for you, whether it's how you manage stress or conflict or even how you dress.
This year's ceremony included the introduction of the Organizational Excellence Award, which celebrates a single organization for the effective application of psychology to the workplace. The inaugural winner, American Express, has created a Healthy Minds program that has integrated behavioral health and emotional well-being into its health and wellness offerings and addressed stigma among its diverse workplace. "The program is bolstered by peer-reviewed science, pilot testing and rigorous evaluation," said Ballard.
The winners of the 2015 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award are:
- Beehive PR, a Twin Cities public relations firm, offers employees a quiet room for recharging, healthy snacks, onsite yoga and 24-hour access to a workout room.
- LaSalle Network, a Chicago-area staffing and recruiting agency, boosts morale by recruiting from within, giving employees autonomy and encouraging work/life balance.
- Team Horner, the world's largest privately owned pool and spa distributor, has a "Color Me Healthy" initiative to address the emotional and mental health needs of its Florida-based workforce. The program includes on-site fitness, one-on-one coaching, and even emergency financial help.
- California's Beach Cities Health District, one of the nation's largest preventive health agencies, applies its wellness philosophy to its own workforce through meditation and walks during meetings, as well as fitness classes during the work day.
- Hilltop Community Resources, which provides services ranging from prenatal care to assisted living to Colorado residents, encourages team spirit and fun and emphasizes employee recognition.
Rebecca A. Clay is a journalist in Washington, D.C.
