60 Seconds on Business
Do your employees feel safe at work?

By Dr. Drake Beil
President, Solutions Inc.

Since you probably spend more time with your co-workers than with your family members, how do you feel about them? Do you really like being there? Do any of them scare you? Do you feel safe at work?

Employee satisfaction and company success are linked. When employees are secure and happy on the job, their work improves and profits soar.

A truly healthy workplace has excellence in five major areas: health, safety and security; career development; employee involvement; family support; and community support.

Here are four key questions to ask about your company in the first area: health, safety and security.

1. Does your organization provide orientation and training to ensure a safe and secure workplace? Are employees trained in key issues such as accident prevention, workplace hazards, injury prevention, area safety, intruder- or stranger-on-premises protocols and so on?

2. Is your workplace OSHA compliant and inspected regularly so potential hazards can be identified and corrected? Do employees have appropriate work gear and use it properly? Are all accidents investigated to determine the cause and prevent reoccurrence?

3. Do you have written policies on issues that could affect job performance? Does your organization provide training in areas such as preventing sexual harassment, discrimination and workplace violence?

4. Are efforts made to ensure emotional and physical health? Does your company offer easy access to mental health and substance abuse programs? This might include options such as providing wellness programs, stress management training, employee assistance programs, mental health insurance options, or access to mental health services on parity with medical illness coverage. Are any company resources made available for traumatic events?

As health, safety and security issues increase in importance, an award by the Hawai'i Psychological Association is focusing on overall workplace health. You can get more information about these and other best practices by clicking on the awards icon at www.hawaiipsych.org. You can download the application and nominate organizations in five categories: big business, small business, government agency, military unit and not-for-profit. The deadline for nominations is July 15.

Dr. Drake Beil can be reached at drake@60secondsonbusiness.