Psychologists encourage employers to invest in employee wellbeing to move to ‘flourishing’ post-pandemic
A focus on employee wellbeing, supporting employee choice and compassionate leadership is being encouraged by psychologists in a new briefing paper from the BPS.
24 March 2022
Produced on behalf of the Division of Occupational Psychology by Dr Ritsa-Ventouratos and Dr Andrew Clements, it explores ways that society, and in particularly the world of work, can move to a 'flourishing' state post-pandemic.
Defining 'flourishing' as 'a state where people experience positive emotions, positive psychological functioning, and positive social functioning, most of the time', it argues this is what we should be aiming for post-pandemic. The paper examines the impact of Covid on the way we work, and how favourable working conditions can support a move from poverty to flourishing, in the context of the wider impacts of Covid-19 on society, including health inequalities and growing food insecurity.
Psychological evidence shows that job insecurity can, over time, result in emotional exhaustion and have a negative impact on an individual's mental health and also impact on work performance. The authors encourage organisations to support the needs of a diverse workforce, and to consider the impact of the pandemic on job security across different sectors.
Dr Ritsa Fotinatos-Ventouratos, co-author of the paper, said:
"We know that Covid-19 has changed the world of work, and employers must adapt to this and invest in employee wellbeing in order for people to thrive post-pandemic. It is important that employers model positive behaviours around work-life balance, setting boundaries and ways of working to promote positive wellbeing for employees."
Dr Andrew Clements, co-author, added:
"It is crucial for organisations to recognise that employees have had varied work experiences during the pandemic, and these are likely to be influenced by socio-economic factors. As a result, employees will have varied needs in the present and future.
A flexible and nuanced approach in managing and supporting employees is recommended, with options for different ways of working where plausible. With this approach we can look to move to a truly 'flourishing' society post-pandemic."
Read the full briefing paper: From poverty to flourishing: Covid perspective