Mental Workload and Its Effects

Mental Workload

• Mental overload occurs when a person lacks qualifications or social competencies for a job.
• Mental underload occurs when there is not enough work to do, resulting in monotonous or repetitive tasks.

Effects of Mental Workload

• Absenteeism, sickness leaves, and fluctuation
• Reduced motivation, poor company climate, and mobbing
• Addictive behavior, rejects, need for reworking, and complaints
• Failure to comply with deadlines, excessive overtime work, and additional requirements

Managing Psychological Hazards

• Control the day by keeping a schedule and taking breaks
• Limit news intake to avoid stress
• Keep moving and take breaks, especially for those working from home
• Utilize a support system and surround yourself with positive people
• Avoid negative people who can bring down your mood

Harassment

• Workplace harassment occurs when an employee feels threatened or belittled by colleagues
• There are five major types of workplace harassment: verbal, psychological, cyberbullying, sexual, and physical

Effects of Harassment

• Physical: feeling sick, disturbed sleep, decreasing performance, severe headache, and shaking
• Emotional: anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, loss of confidence, and reduced self-esteem

Managing Harassment

• Report workplace harassment to the HR department
• Follow steps to report harassment: try to talk to the harasser, escalate the issue to HR if necessary, and contact the EEOC if the company does not deal with the complaint diligently

Violence

• Workplace violence can be any incident where a person is abused, threatened, or assaulted at the workplace
• Internal violence occurs between workers, while external violence is perpetrated by persons outside the organization

Consequences of Workplace Violence

• Individual consequences: physical and psychological health problems, including anxiety, fear, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Organizational consequences: higher sickness absence rates, higher turnover rates, reduced job satisfaction, and reduced productivity
• Societal costs: benefits and welfare costs, unemployment, medical costs, and loss of productivity

Preventing and Managing Workplace Violence

• Guidelines for defusing aggression
• Immediate action after violent incidents
• Debriefing for victims
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Training
• Information and communication

Occupational Psychological Diseases

• Neurosis: a general term referring to mental distress, but does not prevent rational thought or daily functioning
• Psychosis: a mental state involving the loss of contact with reality, causing the deterioration of normal social functioning

Managing Workplace Stress

• Level I: Organizational Psychology - tackle work-related stress at the source
• Level II: Training in Psychological Skills - provide training in stress management and psychological skills
• Level III: Employee Assistance/Counselling - provide employee assistance and counseling services