The relationship between employees and the company they work for can be a delicate one, with both parties needing to balance their own needs with what the other expects from them. When the right balance is met between the demands of an employer and the emotional wellbeing of their workers, the relationship is fulfilling and profitable for everyone. But when employees feel like they are in a “toxic” work environment, it can have a negative impact not just on their mental health, but their physical health as well.
It’s no secret that stress, anger, and other negative emotions can have physical effects on the body, including increased blood pressure and depression. This extends to the workplace as well. In a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, it was found that employees who feel like they have little control over their work environment, or who feel they are not supported by coworkers or employers, are four times more likely to die from heart disease, and twice as likely to suffer from depression.
More than that, though, it was found that employees who feel they work in a toxic environment feel little connection to their employer: 72% of highly stressed employees report having a low connection to work. On the other hand, employees who feel a high level of connection between themselves and their employer report feeling committed to achieving company goals, and are 70% less likely to feel stressed out by their jobs.
In other words, workplace wellness doesn’t stop at exercise incentives and lessons in nutrition. Creating a space where employees feel valued by their employer and supported by their coworkers improves not only the health of the people who work for your company, but the health of the company itself.
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