Workplace analysis
of social and mental risk factors in the work environment
According to the Act on Working Environment, Health and Safety in the Workplace (No. 46/1980), the employer shall be responsible for drawing up a programme of safety and health in the workplace. This plan is an important part of occupational health and safety work and aims to promote and improve the well-being and health and safety of employees.
Vinnnuvernd’s psychologists have received recognition as experts in the preparation of a health and safety plans for workplaces with special emphasis on risk factors related to social and mental factors. These factors include stress and demands at work, well-being of employees, management practices, communication at the workplace and EKKO (bullying, sexual/gender-based harassment, violence).
There are two types of methods used for performing work environment analyses, which can be tailored to the needs of each workplace:
- Electronic surveys sent to the staff.
- Individual interviews with employees asking more about these aspects of the work environment.
EKKO consultation and monitoring
Bullying, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, and violence
The acronym EKKO stands for bullying, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment and violence, and requires workplaces to have an action plan that clearly addresses EKKO issues.
EKKO policy and response plan: Vinnuvernd’s psychology team offers companies assistance in preparing response plans against bullying, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment and violence in the workplace (EKKO). According to Article 65 of Act no. 46/1980 the employer is obliged to prepare a written plan for health and safety in the workplace. It is therefore important that such a plan exists, that it is regularly updated and that it is accessible to employees.
EKKO monitoring: Experiencing negative and/or humiliating behaviour in the workplace is very difficult for most people, and many people find it difficult to set boundaries in communication or report the behaviour.
Vinnuvernd offers companies a service called EKKO monitoring, which is handled by the psychological team. EKKO monitoring is a special reporting portal where employees can report their experiences of unwanted behaviour to an independent and neutral party. A psychologist monitors the notification portal and contacts the employee and invites them to an interview. During the interview, the employee's experience is listened to, the definitions of EKKO are reviewed, support is provided and a conversation is held about the possible paths the employee can take based on the workplace's response plan. The psychologist does not decide for the employee which path they wants to take with the complaint. It is important that the employee makes that decision and feels confident to do it after a conversation with a psychologist.
Burnout
Burnout is a serious condition that threatens the health of employees. Although burnout is not common in Iceland, it is important that workplaces ensure preventative measures in the workplace to reduce the likelihood of employees experiencing burnout. Burnout develops over a long period of time, so there are many opportunities for workplaces to take preventive measures and promote a healthy workplace culture where people thrive at work.
Vinnnuvernd’s psychology team offers various services in this area. These include:
- Education for employees and more detailed education for managers.
- Individual interviews with the purpose of helping the employee/manager identify stressors and find ways and develop coping strategies to strengthen themselves.
- Electronic surveys to assess the staff's experience of stress and well-being at work.
Communication agreement
Good and constructive communication in the workplace is a key factor in job satisfaction and well-being at work. Various informal habits can be created in communication between staff that can either have a positive or negative effect on morale. Negative communication is one of the main reasons for employee discomfort and stress in the workplace.
Workplaces are now increasingly establishing communication agreements that are a kind of guiding light in the communication and behaviour of staff in the workplace. The employees themselves are involved in drafting the agreement with the management, and the aim of the agreement is to promote positive and constructive relations in the workplace, increase trust between employees and increase well-being.
Vinnuvernd offers assistance in drawing up a communication agreement with employees and managers. It is important that as many people as possible participate and thus are able to influence the way lines are drawn in communication in the workplace.
Psychological support
after trauma/difficulties
Support for staff is important when there are traumatic events or difficult situations in the workplace. This can provoke very different emotional reactions in employees, which can be difficult to deal with.
Vinnuvernd's psychological teams have a lot of experience in providing psychological support to employees in such situations. The goal is to create a safe platform for employees to come together to support each other, defuse conflicts, educate about normal responses in abnormal situations and provide support and counselling.
We also provide assistance to managers and consult with them in such situations.
Mediation
Conflicts can arise in the workplace and are often resolved successfully within the workplace. In some cases, conflicts can escalate and become persistent and difficult. This can have a significant impact on well-being, morale and job satisfaction in the workplace. It can also be useful to get external help from an independent party to lead a conversation between the parties in order to reach some kind of settlement.
Vinnuvernd offers mediation to workplaces, and the psychologists have completed a course in mediation at the Mediation School (Sáttamiðlaraskólinn).
Mediation is a process in which an independent and impartial consultant assists employees in a conflict to find a solution to their dispute or difficult communication. A mediator leads a conversation between employees and helps them find an agreement to resolve the conflict themselves. A prerequisite for mediation is that employees participate voluntarily and that the conversation takes place in confidence.
Other HR consulting
Vinnuvernd’s psychology team provides diverse HR-related consultation to the managers of workplaces. Oftentimes, this consultation is tailored to the needs of the workplace, staff and management. If you have a project that you or your staff need support for, please contact us and we will see if we can assist your workplace.
