How To Detoxify In Your Workspace

It’s surprising that 41% of the entire global workforce could be considering handing in their resignation in the midst of a pandemic. According to the World Economic Forum, the shift to remote work and the reliance on tech-based communications has triggered digital burnout all around. Strikingly, many business leaders haven’t noticed. Despite 54% of the general workforce feeling overworked, around 61% of business leaders are “thriving” — which may indicate that they’re out of touch with the needs of employees who are further down the chain of command.The contagious sense of burnout, along with the lack of empathy from an organization’s leadership, can create a toxic working environment. Toxic workplaces are defined as any job where the work, atmosphere, people, or any combination of those things can disrupt employee lives. It’s marked by dysfunction, competition, drama, bullying, and other stressors that hinder employee productivity.

How Toxic Work Environments Affect Your Health

Companies that fail to reward employees for hard work, impose unreasonable demands, or limit employee autonomy are more likely to have higher levels of employee burnout. Moreover, the climate of fear and low morale can harm your health.A study from the University of South Australia found that toxic workplaces increase the risk of employee depression by 300%. Poor management leads to more mental health problems. Stress, depression, anxiety, and sleep deprivation may also have long-term consequences on your team; along with mental health issues, employees may develop higher physical risks like poor cardiovascular health.

Tips on Detoxifying Your Workplace

On the other hand, a workplace that offers respectful engagement can drive job satisfaction and boost employee retention. Workers in a healthy and functional organization are also more likely to stay loyal and engaged with the company, driving value for years to come. Here are three ways to detoxify your workplace:Develop a culture of open communicationFuturity published a study that debunked the stereotype of millennials job-hopping to seek better perks. Rather, most young employees value communication in the workplace. They want mutual respect between management and peers, both public and private occasions.If you want to detoxify your workplace, it’s important to respect differences in individual perspectives. It’s also important for everyone to be able to voice their opinions and concerns freely. Asking and valuing others’ input is necessary to cultivate good workplace communication.Create a conducive working environmentHow your office works and looks can contribute to toxicity. If your office space is not safe, nor comfortable enough to support employee health and wellbeing, you may see a lot of lost working days due to sickness and stress. As four generations occupy the same working spaces, it’s important not to overlook the physical environment to support various working styles.Ergonomic solutions lead to less frustration and fatigue. Pain Free Working highlights how ergonomic products like a good office chair can minimize aches and pains caused by poor posture. These tools can also prevent back, neck, and shoulder discomfort from becoming a bigger problem. You can also add natural elements, patterns, colors, materials, and textures in your office to refresh the mind.Learn mind-calming strategiesEvery employee should know how to manage their emotions, as part of their professional and personal toolkit. Taking a breather from a tense situation by going on a walk, for example, can reduce stress and anxiety. Practicing calm, mindful thinking can help us stay in the present.Our ‘Meditation’ article also highlights how practicing mindfulness can help you achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. Even science agrees: meditation can reduce muscle tension, lower blood pressure, and improve brain function. Schedule a retreat with Udara Bali Yoga Detox & Spa to learn new wellness techniques. Contact us today to learn more.

Written by Betty Milner for udara-bali.com