WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT
How healthy is your workplace?
You may think your current organization operates seamlessly, or you may feel it has many issues. You may experience or even observe things that give you pause. Yet, much as you wouldn’t try to determine the health of a patient through mere observation, you should not attempt to gauge the health of your work environment based on observation and opinion. Often, there are issues you perceive as problems that others do not; similarly, issues may run much deeper than leadership recognizes.
There are many factors and measures that may impact organizational health. Among these is civility. While an organization can institute policies designed to promote such things as civility, how can it be sure these are managed effectively? In this Discussion, you will examine the use of tools in measuring workplace civility.
To Prepare:
• Review the Resources and examine the Clark Healthy Workplace Inventory, found on page 20 of Clark (2015) (you can find this online)
• Review and complete the Work Environment Assessment Template below
• Post a brief description of the results of your Work Environment Assessment. Based on the results, how civil is your workplace? Explain why your workplace is or is not civil. Then, describe a situation where you have experienced incivility in the workplace. How was this addressed? Be specific and provide examples.
Sample Solution
Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating the health of a workplace:
Physical Environment:
- Safety and ergonomics: Are there safety hazards present? Are workstations designed to be comfortable and prevent musculoskeletal injuries?
- Cleanliness and air quality: Is the workplace clean and well-maintained? Is the air quality good, especially in enclosed spaces?
- Natural light and access to greenery: Does the workplace have access to natural light and opportunities for employees to connect with nature?
Full Answer Section
Psychological and Social Environment:
- Job satisfaction and engagement: Do employees feel engaged and motivated in their work? Do they feel their work is meaningful and valued?
- Stress levels and workload: Are employees experiencing excessive stress or feeling overwhelmed by their workload?
- Workplace culture and relationships: Is the workplace culture positive and supportive? Do employees feel comfortable interacting with each other and building relationships?
- Work-life balance: Are employees able to maintain a healthy work-life balance? Do they have access to flexible work arrangements if needed?
Organizational Practices:
- Communication and transparency: Does the organization communicate effectively with employees and keep them informed? Are there open channels for feedback and suggestions?
- Professional development and training: Does the organization invest in employee development and training? Are there opportunities for employees to learn and grow?
- Health and wellness programs: Does the organization offer health and wellness programs, such as access to healthcare, mental health resources, and healthy food options?
By considering these factors and gathering data from employees through surveys, feedback sessions, and open communication, organizations can gain a better understanding of their workplace health and identify areas for improvement.