6 Characteristics of a healthy working environment
27 de June, 2024
On average, the Portuguese spend almost 38 years of their lives at work. That’s more than 13,000 days in a professional context which, if not spent in a positive, pleasant and healthy environment, can have significant impacts on their well-being and their physical, mental and emotional health.
Several studies have shown that an unhealthy working environment can lead to stress, anxiety and even burnout and depression.
But what characterizes a healthy working environment in practice? Find out for yourself.
What is a healthy working environment?
A healthy working environment means that both managers and employees work together to promote actions and behaviors that ensure everyone’s well-being and safety.
The World Health Organization states that a safe and healthy working environment exists when people can carry out their work:
- Without developing injuries or illnesses as a result of this activity;
- With opportunities to improve their social well-being and their physical and mental health;
- While preserving harmony with nature, they are guaranteed protection in the event of a disaster in the community.
A healthy working environment meets the various needs of workers, whether physical, emotional or professional. In other words, it’s an environment in which people feel fulfilled, while at the same time safeguarding their health, well-being and quality of life.
Characteristics of a healthy working environment
1 – It’s comfortable
The workplace itself, i.e. the physical place in which people carry out their work, must be clean, well-kept and guarantee the comfort and safety of professionals.
For this to happen, certain conditions must be met, such as:
- Ergonomic materials, such as chairs, desks or others (whether in more sedentary or more active/physical roles);
- Safety signs and communications, so that workers are aware of and can follow good practices;
- Mild temperatures whenever possible;
- Dedicated places for people to take breaks, eat their meals, interact with colleagues and recover their energy, preferably away from their actual workspace;
- Collaborative spaces for meetings, brainstorming and working together.
These points may be more difficult to ensure in the case of companies whose employees are remote, as they are the ones who build and control their workplace. Even so, organizations should take an active role in assessing people’s working conditions and should try to improve them wherever possible, providing the necessary tools and equipment to do so.
2 – Promotes well-being and healthy habits
Since people spend so much time at work, it is crucial that it contributes to their overall well-being. This can happen through:
- Provision of healthy snacks, fresh fruit and water dispensers, for example;
- Holding workshops/lectures on healthy eating and lifestyle habits;
- Organization of initiatives that encourage regular physical activity, such as walks, group classes, sports tournaments, etc;
- Existence of protocols with gyms, dance schools, tennis clubs and other sports facilities;
- Allocation of benefits that support physical and mental well-being and facilitate access to health care, such as health insurance or benefits such as Edenred Flexível.
3 – It’s flexible and encourages work-life integration
A flexible and adaptable integration between personal, family and professional life is something that workers value and which naturally favors their health, quality of life and happiness.
Thus, companies with a healthy working environment have an organizational culture that:
- It recognizes that people have – and should have – interests, hobbies, commitments and goals outside of work;
- It offers flexible working hours and the possibility of hybrid or remote working, when possible and desired by employees;
- Encourages people to relax and disconnect from work at weekends, vacations and vacations.
4 – It is inclusive, diverse and equitable
Prejudice can lead to various problems in the workplace, including legal issues. Identifying the existence of prejudice, even if unconscious, is a fundamental step towards building a more inclusive, tolerant and healthy working environment.
People can only feel comfortable and welcome in an environment in which they feel they can express their individuality and in which they recognize that this individuality is respected and valued. And this inclusion, and respect for the unique characteristics of each person, is everyone’s job: employees in relation to their peers and leaders.
In addition, if anyone has any concerns about the inclusion and integration of an employee, they should have channels at their disposal to demonstrate this (in individual meetings or anonymous internal questionnaires, for example).
5 – Encourages professional growth
A positive and healthy work environment is also one in which people feel professionally fulfilled and challenged. Organizational leaders need to understand their employees’ professional aspirations and then design and implement strategies to meet them:
- To support, in whole or in part, the payment of courses and certifications (bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, postgraduate courses, short-term workshops, language courses, etc);
- Developing internal talks on topics related to the business or on topics relevant to certain teams (with professionals from the company itself or with external speakers);
- Provide relevant materials and content, particularly during the onboarding period.
6 – Encourages recognition and feedback
Recognizing and rewarding employee effort and performance also contributes to a healthier working environment. This recognition should be regular and should be done not only by leaders, but also by colleagues among themselves.
The truth is that hearing words as simple as “thank you” or “good job” can boost people’s confidence, satisfaction and motivation. Therefore, these expressions of recognition should be shared with the rest of the team or company, so that other people can replicate them.