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1 week ago | 
ohscanada.com | Bill Howatt |Troy Winters
Although not legally mandated, a respectful and safe workplace policy is beneficial for organizations of all sizes, serving as a crucial tool to foster a psychologically safe and inclusive work environment. Implementing a respectful and safe workplace policy increases belonging, inclusion and psychological safety.
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2 weeks ago | 
ohscanada.com | Troy Winters |Bill Howatt
The psychological health and safety (PHS) regulation and enforcement bus has left the station, and we’re witnessing a decisive turning point regarding work-related psychological health and safety. Employers are facing a critical choice: get on board or risk being run over by legal requirements, enforcement actions and the mounting dangers and costs of inaction.
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2 weeks ago | 
ohscanada.com | Bill Howatt |Troy Winters
A robust workplace psychological health and safety policy serves as the cornerstone of any comprehensive psychological safety program. This third installment in this psychological health and safety series explores the essential components of this foundational policy and provides guidance on its development and implementation.
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3 weeks ago | 
talentcanada.ca | Bill Howatt
Poor problem-solving and decision-making skills can have a profound negative impact on mental health, leading to increased stress, anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. When individuals cannot address challenges effectively, they may resort to reactive, impulsive decisions that compound their problems rather than mitigate them. This can create a cycle of frustration and emotional turmoil as unresolved issues persist and escalate over time.
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3 weeks ago | 
ohscanada.com | Bill Howatt |Troy Winters
Before publishing policies, employers must establish robust policy management systems focused on quality control and gathering feedback from key stakeholders. This ensures the policies implemented to support the employee experience and promote psychological health and safety are effective and fulfill their intended purposes. A foundational pillar for any psychological safety program is the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) framework, which should be integrated into every policy to enhance mental health.
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1 month ago | 
talentcanada.ca | Bill Howatt
Businesses recognize the need for highly skilled employees who exhibit excellence in their roles in today’s competitive landscape. However, Horst Schulze’s book Excellence Wins notes that one key lesson for achieving excellence is not about attending training sessions. It requires an organizational commitment to practice, accountability, and a culture that values growth and competency. The disparity between training and application is a primary challenge in promoting a culture of excellence.
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1 month ago | 
ohscanada.com | Bill Howatt |Troy Winters
Policies are essential for psychological safety programs as they create a structured framework for managing mental health in the workplace, enabling consistent application and clear expectations. By outlining resources and support systems, policies can empower employees and hold management accountable for maintaining standards of psychological safety.
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1 month ago | 
talentcanada.ca | Bill Howatt
Social intelligence is characterized by the knowledge and skills to understand and adhere to social rules, often defined by North American cultural norms. It encompasses employees’ ability to navigate interpersonal dynamics crucial for fostering psychological safety and inclusion, allowing individuals to feel a sense of belonging. However, for many neurodivergent employees, there can be a gap between their awareness of these social rules and their ability to follow them.
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1 month ago | 
ohscanada.com | Bill Howatt
Addressing incidents of physical or psychological injury in the workplace is crucial, especially when such events are reported after they occur and all individuals are confirmed safe. Conducting a psychological health and safety investigation is often necessary to comply with occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations and other jurisdictional expectations and adhere to internal policies regarding psychological health.
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1 month ago | 
talentcanada.ca | Bill Howatt
One of the most effective ways senior leadership can ensure they create a psychologically safe environment is by setting clear expectations around what constitutes good leadership within the organizational culture and actively enforcing those standards. While training and development are essential, they are most effective when paired with a tangible definition of what good leadership means and looks like.
