Workplace Impairment Awareness and Prevention
Much of safety is about prevention—and that includes paying attention to factors like mental distress, stress and fatigue that detract from our ability to focus and operate safely.
Every one of us is juggling external stressors, and many of us are carrying more than ever given the pandemic, economic uncertainty, and recent world events. These stressors impact us at our very core and affect our ability to prioritize basic needs like a good night’s sleep, regular exercise, and healthy meals.
Effective safety programs must incorporate an understanding that our employees are leading complex lives, caring for other family members from young children to aging parents, and juggling countless other worries and responsibilities. Outside stressors that impact our mental health and wellness can cause distraction and make us vulnerable to accidents and mishaps, and their ripple effect can impact the safety of others, too.
UG2’s emphasis on wellness acknowledges this reality and recognizes our employees’ whole health. For supervisors, promoting a team environment that emphasizes mutual care and respect, making the time for regular check-ins, and taking both formal and informal opportunities to connect, communicate and listen, all have a role in being a strong and effective manager. Our leadership trainings teach managers to be tuned into indicators like lower morale and disengagement that may signal when employees need more support.
When it comes to caring for our employees, we place a premium on supporting their goals and efforts to pursue personal and professional growth. To that end, our trainings encourage supervisors and managers to cultivate talent by identifying, engaging, and empowering employees around their interests and career objectives. Our regular check-ins are therefore multipurpose, allowing supervisors to check on employees’ overall health and wellbeing but also to help with motivation, growth, and development.
UG2’s ongoing efforts to encourage self-care include promoting awareness of emotional wellbeing and strategies to stay mentally healthy. Our events, gatherings, milestone markers and celebrations often include opportunities for employees to experience the positive impact of connection, meditation and gratitude practices.
While we prioritize wellness and mental wellbeing in our community culture, we know that stress and related concerns often stay hidden. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental or emotional distress that is impacting your day-to-day life, please reach out. Talk to a supervisor or trusted coworker, or find resources for a range of issues here.