When the word ‘psychologist’ comes to our mind, we imagine a stiffly dressed person sitting, conducting a session with a sad, weeping client, and taking notes. But that is far from the truth.
In reality, that is not the only way they carry themselves, nor are they always around teary eyes. There are various fields where psychologists work and have different duties. Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat people with several mental health problems and issues. They study the function of the brain and how it responds to the environment. Some psychologists aim to provide mental health care to patients, whereas others aim to carry out research work. Their jobs entail wide roles varying from clinical psychology to counseling students in school, from forensics to organizational psychology and employee well-being. They apply psychological research, theories, and techniques to ‘real-world’ problems, questions, and business or industry issues.
All of us at some stage of life face immense work pressure and stress. Sometimes we cannot handle it on our own, and we need outside help to relieve ourselves. That’s where we feel the need to have a psychologist at our workplace. There are many benefits to have a psychologist at the workplace. Let us discuss some of them.
They help employees identify impending mental health problems
The world is moving fast, and we hardly find time to think about ourselves and our well-being. Countless work hours, the pressure to meet deadlines, the trouble with clients; all of these factors contribute to deteriorating mental health. We don’t realize the importance of maintaining mental health, and usually, we don’t have any knowledge of dealing with stress at the workplace. So, we remain in that exhausting routine, and the vicious cycle never ends.
For these reasons, many companies now have a psychologist on board. Their job is to help employees identify if there are developing signs of mental stress and alleviate them. Many individuals are leveraging a bachelors in psychology to join the corporate world as organizational psychologists and wellness managers. A psychologist at the workplace conducts a weekly or monthly session to counsel you and ask you if you are doing well. Like this, they can help you figure out if you are showing any signs of mental deterioration or anger, or irritability that can lead to workplace problems.
Easily accessible to employees
Since the workplace psychologist is present in the office, it provides convenience and eases the employees to go to them and ask for help whenever they feel like it. Usually, employees cannot manage the time to attend any counseling sessions because of hectic schedules. When you have a psychologist available at your workplace, nothing can be better than that! And since they’re on the company’s payroll, you don’t even need to pay for them.
They help develop practical solutions and enhance productivity
Stress at the workplace is a significant reason behind decreased organizational productivity across the board. Inappropriate self-assessment, loss of passion, energy, and motivation can be quite a bummer. Employees suffer from work-related stress at some point, and without help, they don’t find a way back to their usual routines.
Obsessive-compulsive disorders take a significant toll on your productivity because you can be preoccupied with specific thoughts and spend excessive time interpreting and exploring these thoughts.
Anxiety can lower your productivity even further. For beginners, anxious thoughts can interrupt and break the chain of ideas you have while working. It can transport employees to a different, distressing and unpleasant world. Anxiety also makes people overly self-critical, disabling them to complete their tasks in time.
Psychologists manage all these mental health issues wisely. It is a big step in developing highly-trained staff and employees who can manage their mental affairs. One of their core responsibilities is developing thorough organizational wellness programs that contribute to improved mental health at the workplace. By encouraging employees to participate in these initiatives, organizational psychologists help boost employee morale and keep productivity at the workplace high.
Less absenteeism at the workplace
Research has demonstrated that poor mental health is connected with lowered attention, leading to high absenteeism rates. Constant absenteeism creates a bad reputation for the employee, and they face many challenges that hinder professional growth. A psychologist at the workplace evaluates this problem and encourages employees to show regularity. It significantly reduces absenteeism and helps increase the confidence and morale of the employee.
Coping with criticism and fatigue
Tackling with criticism is a vital life skill that comes in handy at the workplace. Employees who are bad at taking criticism tend to take it out in ways that may not be conducive to a productive work environment.
However, psychologists help employees take criticism in a positive light. They guide employees on how to improve shortcomings and use strengths as a ladder to grow. It is human nature to make mistakes and learn from them. During life, we make many mistakes, learn from them and try to improve them. It is entirely up to us how we absorb the criticism. When someone attacks you with bad words and remarks, you don’t have to ignore it altogether. Pay close attention; you may feel that you need to correct yourself in some areas.
How to handle stress at the workplace?
It is crucial to maintain health and vitality to progress in your work environment. A psychologist can guide you in some ways to stay healthy and fit. They include:
- Maintaining a proper routine and sleep cycle. Have at least eight hours of sleep in a day.
- Prioritize and pace your activities.
- Make boundaries to encourage yourself to maintain a work-life balance.
- Do regular exercise, gym, or yoga. Training is essential to remain physically and mentally healthy. It prevents many illnesses and severe conditions.
- Take a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables.
- Stay hydrated with water. Avoid excessive sugary drinks and junk food.
Conclusion
Psychologists assist employees in hundreds of ways to manage and monitor their mental and health concerns at the workplace. They boost confidence, self-worth, realization, and positivity in the employees. Their presence and role in a company facilitate employers because they generate maximum output from healthy and mentally stable employees.
