Psychologically Healthy and Safe Workplaces: An Introduction for Employers

Summary:

• Introduces psychologically healthy and safe workplaces and explains their importance alongside physical safety in reducing workplace injury and improving productivity.
• Defines psychological health and safety, emphasizing prevention of harm to employees’ mental well-being through supportive policies, leadership, and culture.
• Highlights 13 key factors from the CSA National Standard, including organizational culture, psychological support, leadership, workload management, growth and development, recognition, engagement, and psychological protection.
• Explains practical strategies for implementing these factors, such as training programs, clear communication, employee involvement, flexible work arrangements, and mental health awareness initiatives.
• Discusses the business case for prioritizing psychological health, citing statistics on mental health costs, absenteeism, and productivity impacts in Canadian workplaces.

Intended Audience:

• Employers, supervisors, HR professionals, and organizational leaders looking to enhance employee well-being, improve workplace culture, and reduce mental health-related risks and productivity losses.