Psychology Matters: "The impact we have is personal: when employees feel understood, respected, and valued in the workplace, it transforms their lives."
Chartered occupational psychologist and BPS President Elect Dr Laura Dean shares the profound impact of psychology in creating healthy, fair, and inclusive workplaces.
24 March 2025
Tell us why you think Psychology Matters in the world of work
Psychology plays a pivotal role in creating workplaces where people are not only productive but also healthy, engaged, and fulfilled. While the efficiencies we bring to organisations are valuable, they are often by-products of our ultimate goal: improving working lives.
Occupational psychology is about understanding people in the context of work and optimising that environment so individuals can thrive. We focus on aspects like motivation, well-being, organisational culture, and fairness, which are all critical to sustainable success.
One of our core principles is ensuring that workplaces are fair and inclusive. This involves promoting equity in how people are treated, how opportunities are distributed, and how individuals are supported regardless of their background or identity. A fair workplace enhances trust and collaboration, which leads to better outcomes for everyone. Ensuring fairness is not just about compliance with policies; it's about building a culture where everyone has a chance to succeed.
By helping organisations support employees' mental and emotional well-being and ensuring fairness across the board, we make work a meaningful, fulfilling part of their lives. When we improve the work experience, we not only increase job satisfaction but also enhance overall life satisfaction—because work is a significant part of people's lives. Our field is about humanising the workplace.
A fair workplace enhances trust and collaboration, which leads to better outcomes for everyone.
Tell us about the impact of your own work in psychology
The difference we make is not always immediately measurable, but over time, it's profound. From supporting individuals to navigate workplace challenges to advising organisations on leadership and culture, we contribute to environments where people can perform at their best.
For example, in helping organisations improve employee engagement, we often see tangible improvements in productivity, but even more importantly, we see employees reporting better mental health, increased job satisfaction, and stronger work-life balance. These are the true measures of success.
Personally, I have seen the lasting impact of my work, particularly from my years in career counselling, where I supported individuals as they entered the workforce. It's been many years since I worked directly in that capacity, but I still meet people who tell me how valuable that experience was for them. They often say that it was a turning point in their lives, helping them find work that truly fit with who they were and made their lives better.
More recently, in my teaching role, I work with the next generation of occupational psychologists, which is incredibly rewarding. I also partner with organisations to improve their recruitment practices, making them more inclusive for neurodiverse applicants.
Just this week, I received a heartwarming email from a participant in one of these sessions. She shared that the session helped her understand her own experiences at work better and encouraged her to seek a diagnosis for autism. This kind of feedback underscores the meaningful difference our work can make, not just for organisations, but for individuals too.
The work we do in occupational psychology creates a positive ripple effect on families and communities, making the workplace a foundation for better living.
What makes you proud about being an occupational psychologist?
I'm proud of the role we play in shaping organisations that support employees' well-being and career satisfaction. The impact we have is personal: when employees feel understood, respected, and valued in the workplace, it transforms their lives.
The work we do in occupational psychology creates a positive ripple effect on families and communities, making the workplace a foundation for better living. Knowing that the changes we help implement improve not only productivity but the quality of life for individuals is incredibly rewarding.
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