Occupational Health Management
Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental Health in the Workplace
Why is Occupational Health Management (OHM) indispensable?
- Occupational Health Management (OHM) is of crucial importance, as numerous employees in our organizations fall ill both mentally and physically every day due to work stress. These stresses not only lead to work absences and accidents, but also to a significant reduction in work capacity. The consequence is immense, avoidable costs that burden our organizations every year.
- Employers are legally obligated to ensure the protection of health in the workplace through appropriate measures. This includes the design of working conditions and the creation of a social environment that promotes human health (see Occupational Safety and Health Act). Particular attention must be paid to psychological stresses that arise from organizational and interactional stressors.
Core pillars of balanced health management
- Comprehensive health management considers the following pillars and their interactions:
- Tasks to be performed: What activities must employees accomplish?
- Existing demands: What expectations and stresses are placed on them?
- Available resources: What means and support are available?
- Relationships with customers: How is the interaction with customers structured?
- Relationships between colleagues, supervisors and subordinates: What is the social structure within the organization?
- Emotional economy, regulation and culture: How are emotions dealt with in the workplace?
- Structural organizational characteristics: What organizational structures influence the work environment?
Balance between demands and resources
- A negative balance between demands and stresses on one side and resources on the other can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion, which can manifest as burnout (see burnout syndrome).
The influence of personal and institutional resources
- Personal and institutional resources play a central role, as they:
- influence the perception of the difficulty level of tasks, and
- serve as coping strategies in problem situations.
Effective Occupational Health Management therefore not only promotes the mental health of employees, but also contributes to the sustainable performance and success of the entire organization.
The Manager in Occupational Stress Management
|
Legal background: Section 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act stipulates that the employer must identify the (physical and psychological) hazards to health at work and assess the protective measures.
Area of work content / work task
|
- The employee should perform complete tasks, not partial ones.
- They should have scope for action regarding work content, workload, work methods and the sequence of activities.
- Tasks should be designed to be varied.
- The information provided should be neither too extensive nor too limited.
- Competencies and responsibilities must be clearly defined.
- The requirements should correspond to the employee's qualifications, without overburdening or underchallenging them.
- They should not be excessively burdened emotionally. This includes both dealing with intense experiences as well as constantly responding to the needs of others and permanently displaying required emotions, regardless of one's own feelings.
Area of work organization
|
- Working time: Working hours should not be too long and should ideally not be on call. Breaks are an integral part of a balanced working day.
- Work flow: The work flow should be designed to avoid excessive pressure and frequent interruptions.
- Communication and support: Open and mutual communication as well as team support should counteract isolation.
- Responsibilities: Responsibilities should be clearly defined and communicated transparently.
Area of social relationships
|
- Disputes and social pressure are extremely stressful.
- Managers require solid training.
- Managers should show appreciation and support to their employees.
psychological stress in the workplace
|
The Joint German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy GDA has published the guideline "Advice and Supervision for Psychological Stress in the Workplace". And with this, it has created a checklist that we as clinical psychologists can follow together with managers in Occupational Health Management OHM: "Feature areas and contents of the risk assessment"
Stress at work
Between Overload and Underload: The Balancing Act in Professional Life
|
A stressful situation in the workplace can arise from two opposing causes:
- On the one hand, overload, which often leads to fatigue and exhaustion, can be a trigger. This occurs when demands exceed one's own resources and the burden thus becomes too great.
- On the other hand, underload, which results in boredom and monotony, can also lead to stress when one's own abilities and potential are not sufficiently challenged. In both cases, there is a lack of crucial balance in two central areas:
- The interplay between performance demands and personal resources
- On one side are the professional demands, which can often be perceived as burdensome.
- On the other side should be the individual resources such as abilities, coping strategies and the willingness to perform. If this interplay is unbalanced, stress can occur, as the demands cannot be compensated by corresponding resources.
- The balance between effort and gratification Another critical point is the relationship between what one invests in work – time, energy and commitment – and what one receives in return. These gratifications can be financial in nature, but can also include social, emotional or career-related aspects. When what one gives is not in harmony with what one receives in return, an imbalance arises that also causes stress.
A healthy approach to professional stress therefore always requires a balanced equilibrium between demands and one's own resources as well as between one's own effort and the reward received. If you need support in managing professional stress through a better balance between demands and resources, I am happy to be available to you with my coaching and consulting services both in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen and in Hohwacht on the Baltic Sea (Plön district, Schleswig-Holstein).
Regulating emotions in work settings
emotional dissonance
|
Demanding Emotional Labor and Its Psychological Challenges
In many professions, particularly in the service and healthcare sectors, managing emotions is a central component of the work. This "demanding emotional labor" requires not only conscious handling of one's own feelings but also the deliberate influence of customers', clients', or patients' emotions. This involves:
- Intensifying, mitigating, or transforming the customer's emotions: To elicit certain reactions, it may be necessary to deliberately influence the other person's emotions – for example, by amplifying positive feelings, calming fears, or transforming uncertainty into trust.
- Displaying emotions even when you don't feel them: The profession often requires demonstrating certain emotions such as friendliness, calmness, or understanding, even when these are not authentically felt.
- Concealing your own emotions even when you feel them: At the same time, it's often necessary to suppress strong personal feelings such as frustration, anger, or sadness in order to maintain a professional facade and avoid unsettling the customer or client.
- Sensitivity and empathy: A high degree of empathy is required to perceive the other person's feelings and respond appropriately – whether through empathetic compassion or through deliberate restraint of emotional reactions.
These challenges can lead to an internal discrepancy between what one feels and what one displays. This so-called emotional dissonance can cause considerable psychological stress in the long term and, if not addressed, lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and other psychological complaints.
My Offering: Psychotherapy, Coaching & Counseling for Demanding Emotional Labor
As a psychotherapist, coach, and counselor, I offer comprehensive support for individuals who must perform intensive emotional labor in their profession. My offering includes:
- Individual psychotherapy: In my psychotherapeutic work, I support you in recognizing and resolving emotional dissonance. Together we work on better understanding your emotional reactions and finding healthy ways to deal with professional demands.
- Therapy for burnout and emotional exhaustion: If you're already experiencing signs of burnout or emotional exhaustion, I offer you professional help to regain inner stability and joy in life. Together we develop strategies for stress management and building new energy.
- Coaching for professional challenges: As a coach, I guide you in finding a balance between professional demands and your own emotional needs. The focus is on strengthening your resilience and developing strategies that help you face the challenges of your work with more ease and composure.
- Counseling on emotional labor: In counseling, I support you in using your empathy purposefully and healthily. We develop techniques that help you maintain professional distance without losing your authenticity. At the same time, you learn how to minimize emotional dissonance and protect your psychological health in the long term.
Resources of a person in their profession
|
Positive qualities for professional success and well-being
- Balance: A harmonious balance between professional demands and personal well-being.
- Sense of responsibility: Willingness to actively shape the tasks and duties undertaken in the company.
- Commitment: Passion for work without overburdening oneself.
- Freedom of decision: The ability to make decisions independently and confidently.
- Success orientation: Striving for positive results and personal success.
- Cooperation skills: Efficient collaboration and coordination with colleagues and partners.
- Resilience: Ability to deal constructively with feedback and assessments.
- Emotion regulation: Competent handling of one's own emotions and stressful situations.
- Independence: Self-directed work and taking initiative.
- Ability to accept criticism: Constructive handling of criticism for personal and professional development.
- Problem-solving strategies: Effective methods for managing difficult tasks.
- Adaptability: Flexible response to new demands and changes.
- Ability to distance oneself: Capacity to establish emotional boundaries when necessary.
- Customer orientation: Focus on the needs and expectations of customers.
- Team responsibility: Willingness to take responsibility for team members.
- Composure in competition: Calm handling of competitive situations.
- Delegation skills: Effective delegation of tasks and responsibility.
- Willingness to help: Openness to seeking and accepting support.
- Teamwork: Optimal use of collaboration and synergies in the team.
- Flexibility: Adaptability in internal attitudes and behaviors.
- Resilience in problems: Minimizing the impact of professional challenges.
- Frustration tolerance: Resilience to setbacks and stress.
- Motivation: High motivation to consistently deliver good performance.
- Identification with the organization: Strong commitment and engagement for company goals.
- Interactive competencies: Ability for successful interaction and communication.
- Conflict management: Skill in handling and resolving conflicts.
- Self-confidence: Trust in one's own abilities and control over one's own actions.
- Life satisfaction: General satisfaction with life that has a positive effect on work.
- Collaboration: Openness to constructive and collaborative working relationships.
- Inner calm: Composure and self-assurance in one's professional role.
- Problem-solving ability: Creativity and efficiency in solving challenges.
- Qualifications: Professional and personal abilities that contribute to achieving professional goals.
- Recovery capacity: Effective use of leisure time and vacation for recuperation.
- Consideration: Sensitivity and empathy in collegial interaction.
- Self-worth: Strong personal conviction and appreciation of one's own achievements.
- Social competencies: Ability to assert oneself, set boundaries and be flexible in social interaction.
- Social support: Positive networks and support from colleagues and supervisors.
- Resilience: Ability to survive difficult times and emerge stronger from them.
- Perseverance: Persistence and commitment, even when it becomes challenging.
Stressful and burdensome characteristics of professional activity
- Interpersonal challenges
- Aggression by customers: Inappropriate or aggressive behavior from customers can be emotionally stressful.
- Strained customer contact: Frequent interactions with customers who make high demands can lead to stress.
- Attacks by colleagues: Conflicts or attacks from colleagues can significantly burden the work climate.
- Bullying: Persistent bullying can lead to psychological stress and an unhealthy work environment.
- Social exclusion: The feeling of not being part of the team can lead to isolation and stress.
- Social isolation: Lack of social contacts in the workplace can impair well-being.
- Competitive pressure: The pressure to be better than colleagues can lead to considerable stress.
- Difficult alignment with customers: Problems in collaboration with customers can be frustrating.
- Too many conflicts with colleagues/customers/supervisors: Frequent conflicts can reduce motivation and commitment.
- Working conditions and structure
- Unfavorably structured work groups: Inefficient team structures can complicate collaboration.
- Noise: High noise levels can impair concentration and productivity.
- It is too hot: Uncomfortable temperatures in the workplace can reduce performance.
- Inadequate information structure: Unclear information can lead to misunderstandings and stress.
- Inadequate communication structure: Poor communication can negatively affect efficiency and team climate.
- Inadequate tools: Insufficient work resources can make work difficult and frustrating.
- Injustices in the company: Unequal treatment can undermine trust in the company.
- Poor company climate: A negative work environment can reduce employee motivation and commitment.
- Spatial separation between family life and working life: Difficulties reconciling work and private life can lead to stress.
- Work demands
- Demanding emotional labor: Managing one's own emotions in certain professions can be emotionally stressful.
- Work instructions/goals are not clear: Unclear guidelines can lead to confusion and stress.
- Too much work volume: Overload from too many tasks can increase stress levels.
- Too high complexity of tasks: Complex tasks can cause overwhelm and stress.
- Too high pressure of responsibility: High responsibility can lead to anxiety and stress.
- Too high time pressure/speed: Tight time constraints can impair work quality and well-being.
- Too many tasks/data: A flood of tasks can lead to overwhelm.
- Multifunctionality: Simultaneously performing multiple tasks can lead to stress.
- Multilocality: Working at different locations can bring additional challenges.
- Personal and professional development
- Limited advancement opportunities: Lack of prospects can reduce motivation and satisfaction.
- Low reward for performance rendered: Lack of recognition can be demotivating.
- Limited freedom of decision: Restricted decision-making freedom can lead to frustration.
- Limited recovery phases: Lack of breaks can lead to exhaustion.
- Limited scope for action: Limited possibilities for influence can cause stress.
- Poor integration in the work team: Lack of integration can lead to isolation and dissatisfaction.
- Low cooperation: Lack of collaboration can negatively affect efficiency and team climate.
- Low human support: Lack of support from colleagues can lead to stress and isolation.
- Hardly any sense of achievement: Lack of success experiences can reduce motivation and satisfaction.
- Uncertainty and pressure
- Risk of job loss: Fear of losing one's job can lead to considerable stress.
- Risk of professional decline: The concern about falling behind in one's career can be stressful.
- Too high dependence on other people: Dependencies can lead to stress and uncertainty.
- Unmanageable role conflicts: Conflicts between different roles can be overwhelming.
- Responsibilities are not clearly defined: Unclear responsibilities can lead to confusion and stress.
- Contradictions in tasks: Conflicting requirements can lead to stress and frustration.
Stressful characteristics of a person in their profession
|
Challenges in professional life: Recognizing and understanding for a healthy work environment In the modern world of work, we encounter diverse challenges that can influence our well-being and performance. Recognizing and understanding these factors is the first step toward a healthier work environment. Let us consider these aspects together:
- Emotional and psychological factors
- Aversion toward customers: A negative attitude toward customers can impair service quality and lead to stress.
- Anxiety: Excessive worries and fears can significantly impair work performance and well-being.
- Low general life satisfaction: Generally low satisfaction with life can negatively affect work motivation and performance.
- Poor emotion regulation: Difficulties in controlling and expressing feelings can lead to conflicts and stress in the workplace.
- Low self-confidence: Lack of self-assurance can make it difficult to assume responsibility and make decisions.
- Low self-worth: Low self-esteem can hinder professional development and engagement.
- Fear of failure: The fear of setbacks can lead to excessive stress and reduced willingness to take risks.
- Excessive need for recognition: A strong desire for recognition can lead to excessive stress and dissatisfaction when it is not fulfilled.
- Competencies and abilities
- Lack of experience: Lack of practical experience can lead to uncertainty and inefficiency at work.
- Low endurance: Lack of perseverance can make it difficult to manage long-term projects and tasks.
- Low ability to distance oneself: Difficulties in switching off, not personalizing problems and finding patient solutions can lead to overload.
- Low ability for independent work: Problems with working autonomously can impair productivity and self-confidence.
- Low flexibility: Difficulties adapting to changed circumstances can be problematic in a dynamic work environment.
- Low frustration tolerance: Low tolerance for setbacks can lead to premature giving up and reduced performance.
- Low sense of control: Low confidence in one's own abilities and control possibilities can impair motivation and performance.
- Low problem-coping competence: Difficulties in effectively solving problems can lead to stress and reduced efficiency.
- Low problem-solving skills: Lack of abilities for structured problem-solving can impair work quality and efficiency.
- Low professional qualifications for work tasks: Insufficient professional knowledge can lead to uncertainty and inferior work quality.
- Low qualifications / competencies / training for the task: Lack of specific skills for work tasks can impair performance and satisfaction.
- Low social competencies: Difficulties in interpersonal communication and interaction can negatively affect teamwork and work climate.
- Work-related attitudes and behaviors
- Low performance motivation: A lack of drive to deliver good performance can impair productivity and work quality.
- Low punctuality: Frequent lateness can disrupt teamwork and lead to a negative work impression.
- Low work engagement: Lack of commitment and enthusiasm for work can reduce productivity and job satisfaction.
- Low professional engagement: Lack of interest in professional development can hinder progress and career opportunities.
- Criticism is processed as destructive for oneself: A negative attitude toward feedback can hinder personal growth and improvements.
- Tendency to resign after failures: The tendency to give up quickly after setbacks can impair long-term performance and development.
- Difficulties with interactive collaboration: Problems with teamwork can negatively affect efficiency and work climate.
- Excessive willingness to overexert: The tendency to overexert oneself beyond one's own limits can lead to burnout and health problems.
- Excessive commitment to work: An excess of professional commitment can lead to neglect of other areas of life and burnout.
- Excessive susceptibility to influence by statements of other people: High receptivity to the opinions of others can impair decision-making and self-confidence.
- Impatience: Lack of patience can lead to hasty decisions and stress in complex work situations.
- Additional factors
- Limited regeneration and recovery phases: Insufficient time for recovery and relaxation can lead to exhaustion and reduced performance in the long term.
- Low social support: Lack of backing in the social environment can make it harder to cope with professional challenges.
- Low resilience for these professional stresses: Low resilience to work stress can lead to faster exhaustion and health problems.
- Additional non-work-related stresses
- Stress and obligations in private life can impair performance and well-being in the workplace.
Recognizing these challenges is the first step toward a healthier work environment. Through targeted measures in occupational health management, we can positively influence these factors and thus contribute to an improved work atmosphere and increased performance.
Resources of a beneficial professional activity
|
A professional activity that promotes well-being and satisfaction is characterized by a variety of positive factors. These can be divided into the following categories:
Work environment and organization
- Clear structures and communication: Transparent task assignments, clear information channels and established communication structures create orientation and reduce stress.
- Flexible scope for design: The opportunity to help shape work processes and schedules promotes personal responsibility and commitment.
- Positive work atmosphere: A good group climate and social support from colleagues create a pleasant work environment.
- Participation and co-determination: The opportunity to participate in organizational affairs and be involved in important decisions strengthens the sense of belonging and appreciation.
- Recognition and appreciation: Regular recognition for performance rendered, both from supervisors and colleagues, motivates and strengthens self-confidence.
Tasks and development
- Variety and diversity: Different tasks and projects prevent monotony and promote further development.
- Meaningfulness: An activity that contributes to something greater gives work a deeper meaning and increases motivation.
- Learning opportunities: Regular training and the opportunity to learn new skills support personal and professional development.
- Advancement opportunities: Prospects for professional development motivate and offer long-term incentives.
- Autonomy: The opportunity to work independently and make decisions strengthens self-confidence and personal responsibility.
Working conditions
- Working time design: Flexible working hours and the option for part-time or mobile work improve the compatibility of work and private life.
- Work breaks: Regular breaks serve regeneration and increase concentration.
- Adequate resources: Providing the necessary work materials and supplies facilitates task completion.
- Appropriate workload: A balanced work-life balance prevents overload and burnout.
- Fair compensation: Performance-based remuneration is an important factor for satisfaction.
Other important aspects
- Sense of achievement: The opportunity to achieve one's own goals and celebrate successes strengthens self-confidence and motivation.
- Feedback culture: Regular feedback helps with development and makes it possible to expand strengths and improve weaknesses.
- Cooperation and collaboration: The opportunity to work with colleagues and learn from each other promotes team spirit and innovative capacity.
Additional aspects that can also play a role:
- Work-life balance: A healthy balance between work and private life is crucial for well-being.
- Health and safety in the workplace: A safe work environment and health promotion programs contribute to satisfaction.
- Corporate culture: A positive corporate culture that embodies values such as respect, fairness and sustainability has a positive effect on the work climate.
social competencies in the workplace
|
Social competencies in the workplace are crucial for successful collaboration. They encompass a variety of psychological abilities and skills that relate to dealing with oneself and others. These competencies play a central role in the areas of self-perception and perception of others, as well as in self-management and organizational management.
Some central examples of social competencies in the workplace are:
- Giving praise and recognition to others: Expressing appreciation and giving positive feedback.
- Assigning and delegating: Transferring tasks specifically to the right people.
- Assessing resources: Realistically evaluating one's own abilities and those of employees.
- Yielding: Showing willingness to compromise and reacting flexibly.
- Planning: Structuring content and actions both for oneself and for others.
- Taking responsibility: Showing personal responsibility and taking social responsibility for others.
- Training colleagues: Patiently and didactically integrating new employees.
- Managing emotions: Controlling one's own emotions in a healthy and productive way in interactive situations.
- Challenging: Encouraging others to improve without exerting pressure.
- Composure in competition: Remaining relaxed despite competition.
- Drawing consequences: Drawing conclusions from one's own and others' behavior.
- Expressing criticism: Formulating feedback constructively and respectfully.
- Mastering hierarchies: Dealing confidently with different hierarchical levels and adapting behavior.
- Resolving conflicts: Managing interactive conflicts calmly and efficiently.
- Respectful cooperation: Working together appreciatively and effectively.
- Saying no: Setting one's own boundaries clearly and politely.
- Showing gratitude: Thanking for support.
- Making complaints: Addressing problems objectively and solution-oriented.
- Assertiveness: Representing one's own viewpoints without overriding others.
- Complying and adapting: Acting flexibly in situations and adapting.
- Accepting help: Accepting support and actively seeking it.
- Coordination: Coordinating well with others and utilizing synergies.
- Offering support: Giving others backing and reinforcement.
- Setting boundaries: Protecting oneself from overload and setting clear boundaries.
- Closeness and distance: Finding the balance between professional closeness and appropriate distance.
- Asking for support: Requesting help when necessary.
- Evaluating behavior: Assessing the behavior of others fairly, objectively and constructively.
These competencies not only promote personal well-being, but also contribute decisively to a positive and productive work environment.
If you would like to further develop your social competencies in the workplace to promote a positive and productive work environment, I am happy to support you with my coaching and consulting services both in Hamburg-Altona-Ottensen and in Hohwacht on the Baltic Sea (Plön district, Schleswig-Holstein).
team climate
|
Group Climate: Strong Together for Success
The group climate plays a crucial role in every organization — whether in a company, an institution, or a team. It describes the shared attitudes and perceptions of a group’s members, particularly in relation to key areas of work such as communication. A positive group climate is more than just a pleasant working atmosphere — it is a decisive factor for collective success.
A supportive group climate is characterized by the following features:
- Encouraging communication structures: Open and clear communication fosters transparency and mutual understanding within the team.
- Kindness and fairness in interaction: Respectful behavior and fairness form the foundation for positive collaboration.
- Mutual support: Every member feels supported and is willing to help others.
- Mutual trust: Trust forms the foundation upon which stable and productive relationships are built.
- Identification with the group and its goals: When members share and identify with the group’s goals, it enhances engagement and motivation.
- Clear rules: Transparent and fair rules provide orientation and encourage compliance.
- Cooperation: Working together and being willing to collaborate lead to better results.
- Motivation to perform: A positive group climate fosters the motivation to achieve top performance.
- Constructive conflict resolution: Conflicts are resolved objectively and fairly, contributing to a positive way of interacting.
- Feeling comfortable as a group member: Every member feels like a valued part of the community.
- Sense of belonging: A strong feeling of “we” connects members and strengthens cohesion.
A well-developed group climate creates an environment in which each individual can reach their full potential — thereby driving collective success.
Contact for the purpose of scheduling an appointment
The two practice addresses
Rural practice and mailing address for all correspondence:
Dipl.-Psych. Egon Molineus
An den Tannen 39
24321 Hohwacht (Baltic Sea)
City practice:
Practice for Psychotherapy & Coaching in the Medical Center
Dipl.-Psych. Egon Molineus
Bahrenfelder Str. 169, 5th Floor
22765 Hamburg