Mental health at work: How to protect your employees and boost productivity?
A global shift in the concept of occupational safety
At a time when global attention is focused on improving work environments and enhancing worker safety, the "psychological environment at work" stands out as one of the most important issues on the agenda for World Day for Safety and Health at Work. This significant shift reflects a growing awareness that risks are no longer limited to physical or chemical aspects, but have expanded to include psychological and social dimensions that directly affect worker performance and safety.
In this context, Ahmed Samman, Associate Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health at King Abdulaziz University, explained to Al-Youm newspaper that the approach presented by the International Labour Organization reflects a qualitative shift in understanding work environments. Concepts such as clear job roles, management support, and procedural fairness are no longer merely organizational tools, but have become essential lines of defense for preventing occupational hazards.
Historical context: From physical risks to psychological burdens
Historically, occupational safety and health efforts have focused primarily on tangible hazards such as machinery accidents, exposure to hazardous chemicals, and noise. However, as global economies have shifted from heavy industry to service and knowledge-based economies, new challenges have emerged. Work-related stress, burnout, and work-life balance have become major contributors to illness and injury. International organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have recognized that health is not merely the absence of physical disease but also encompasses psychological and social well-being, thus underscoring the importance of a positive psychological environment as an integral part of employers' responsibility.
Direct effects of a negative psychological environment
Samman explained that ignoring these factors not only reduces job satisfaction but also poses a real threat to employee safety. He pointed out that accumulated psychological pressures within work environments can lead to decreased concentration and reduced decision-making abilities, which increases the likelihood of professional errors and accidents. He added that recent studies indicate a growing impact of psychosocial risks, rivaling and sometimes even surpassing traditional risks. Ambiguity in job roles, weak managerial support, and a sense of organizational injustice are key factors that accelerate job burnout and negatively affect employee behavior.
Building an integrated prevention system
He emphasized that a clear professional role is the starting point for a stable work environment, stressing that employees who understand their responsibilities precisely and feel supported by their management are more productive and less prone to absenteeism or making mistakes. He pointed out that building a healthy work environment requires an integrated system of organizational procedures, beginning with monitoring and fairly distributing workloads, continuing with holding regular coordination meetings, and culminating in adopting transparent policies for receiving and addressing complaints, thus strengthening trust between employees and management. Samman warned that neglecting this system transforms it from an organizational tool into a latent risk factor, as environments where complaints are marginalized or fairness is lacking witness a significant increase in indicators of psychological stress and workplace accidents.
Strategic importance at both the local and international levels
Internationally, the World Health Organization estimates that anxiety and depression disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion annually due to lost productivity. Locally, the focus on the psychological well-being of employees aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes human capital development and creating an attractive and motivating work environment. Companies that invest in their employees' mental health not only contribute to achieving the Vision's objectives but also gain a competitive edge in attracting and retaining talent. Samman concluded by emphasizing that addressing psychosocial factors is no longer a secondary option but a strategic necessity dictated by the nature of modern work, and that integrating these factors into occupational safety frameworks contributes to building safer, more efficient, and more sustainable work environments.
