“The Healthy, Happy

Employee!”

A presentation for The Oxfordshire

HR Network

APRIL 2018

Presented by:

Hilary Horton B.Med. Sci. BSc (hons) IHSM RN.

Sqn. Ldr. (retired) Royal Air Force

Clinical Services Director

Enspirita Ltd

(improving health at work)

www.enspirita.co.uk

email: hilary@enspirita.com

Mob:07985267704

Office: 01785 282738

Rest and Sleep

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A work place conducive to good health?

“It doesn’t hurt enough” (the nocebo effect)

Early Occupational Health referrals

The work place and Emotion

Walking in other’s shoes

The Stressed Employee /a moral & ethical duty?

Stress Prevention

Manager/Leader responsibilities

Mental Resilience the ability to heal

Survival!

Contents

Conducive to good

health?

Working culture, organizational personality?

• 12 million patients annually leaving GP surgeries

with diagnosis of ‘stress’ often work related. 1:6

workers experiencing mental illness, 300,00

people leave jobs annually attributable to it

“the difference between antidepressants and

placebos was so marginal that the scientific critics

who analyzed the results called it ‘clinically

negligible’ (Prof. Peter Gotzsche, Nordic Cochcrane

Centre)

• But isn't work good for us?

• Has stress management training worked?

• 1:6 pop. Diagnosed as anxious often leading to

serious mental illness, depression

3 Phases Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion

The

Stressed

Employee • ‘A progressive loss of idealism, energy and

purpose, often the result of conditions at work”

(Edelwich)

• A daily struggle between what should be and

what is

• But can you burn out if not on fire?

• The person loses a part of who they thought

they were and feels a failure; sick leave is

inevitable

• ‘Work dread’

• Protective effects of Camaraderie and

supportive management and leadership

• Prevention is the key!

“The Mind is its own place, and in itself

can make a heaven of hell, a hell of

heaven……….”

(Paradise Lost, John Milton)

‘Your life is what your thoughts make it’

(Marcus Aurelius)

It doesn’t hurt enough,

Nocebo effect

A Shaggy dog story

The workplace-

Attitudes

Emotions:

Thought, beliefs

Desires, Actions

Behavior

‘The Stress

Arena’

Motives for

Action

Nocebo Effect

Placebo effect: Latin “I will please you”

Beneficial response to dummy therapy/treatment

Nocebo effect: Latin “I will harm you”

Negative thought processes, same mind/body power that can heal can also

harm you

Can show brain’s power, strong effects in MS, Parkinsons, Fibromyalgia,

depression etc.

Priming someone to believe they are ill, can often produce symptoms of

disease

Work Dread!

“Fatigue is often not caused by work, but by worry, anxiety,

frustration and resentment”. ‘

We rarely get tired when doing something exciting and

interesting!!!’

(Dale Carnegie)

Identify a small but significant difference that you could make today

Set a review date in your diary

Learn to live (work) without complaining

Love and accept yourself for who you are – make a difference

Give the whining dog a rest!!

Making a difference

• Solution focused thinking

• Take time to think!

• Overcome bitterness and resentment

• “He who angers you, conquers you” (Buddha)

• How easily can you say:

• I was wrong, I made a mistake, I am sorry, I changed my mind, I

don’t know, I don’t know but I will find out, I need your help?

• Is this bigger than me or I am I bigger than this?

75% of our day, thinking about, travelling to or from or being at work!

What happens to us when we enter the ‘Work Zone?’

Attitude

Choices

Working relationships

A Whining dog?!!!

Walking in other’s shoes!

“We are all entirely different

because our brains are different”.

(Dr Paul Brown)

• Unique characteristics

• Many personality traits

• Organizational Culture

• Differing levels of energy and

drive

• Shared meanings and purpose

• Self Awareness, Compassion,

Introspection

Difficult (Toxic) Colleagues!!

Competent Jerks, Lovable fools, meanness.

Bullying, bad behaviour.

When egos are threatened??

Unnecessary Conflict?

Passive/Aggressive colleagues

Negative lieutenants?

“Employees do not leave bad

jobs; they leave bad bosses…….”

(Richard Branson)

Solutions:

Do

Know that most people act aggressively

when feeling threatened

Ask yourself why?

Are you behaving overly sensitive?

Are you misinterpreting a situation?

Don’t

Take the blame; many bullies pick targets

who are highly skilled and well liked

Escalate the situation until you have tried

to solve it informally, taking advice from

allies.

Suffer unecessarily

• Don’t stay and suffer

• Call out the bad behaviour

• Pick your battles

• Share your observations and seek to understand

• Keep a record

• Make suggestions about how to remedy the situations

• Create new ways to engage

• What have you learnt about yourself?

• Walk in his/her shoes

• Get help sooner rather than later

• Ask yourself are you contributing to the problem?

Passive aggressive colleagues:

(Saying one thing and doing another, then: ‘EVERYTHING IS FINE”

Responding emotionally will likely leave you looking and feeling like a

fool.

Consider what is motivating their behaviour

Bad guys often win at work because they have other valued traits

Ask permission “can I talk to you about something?”

Don’t lose your cool

Communicate!!!

Who is good? Who is liked? Does it matter?

Psychological Coping and Mindfulness

• To respond rather than react

• Be in the moment

• Avoid avoiding!

The Joy of Living

• See things in perspective

• The positives in life

• A full fridge

• Passport

• Appreciate Nature

• Reflect

• Value yourself

• Kindness

• Healthcare

• Who am I?

• Tempus Fugit!

12 Habits of resilient people

Management advisory Service

Derek Mowbray

4 Golden Rules for a Happy day at Work

• Attitude

• Play

• Make their day

• Be Present

Thank you for your attention.

Questions?

And finally…………..

‘Dying is no big deal, the very least of us will

manage that;

it’s living’s the trick……………”

(Brian Clough)