The Imbalances of Society

The world is complex, demanding, and constantly changing. Our individual reality, not much different, has assumed alarming proportions these days. It becomes clear that individual challenges are systemic and far exceed our capacity to respond rationally.

In our attempt to control “our world” and maintain the performance levels we deem expectable, “We” become ill! In the struggle between what we want, what we have, and what we should have or be, we do not respect our limits. These gaps allow a myriad of mental illnesses to proliferate in the real world, often stemming from high levels of stress and anxiety.

Uncertainty as a Catalyst for Stress

Transposing this premise to the business reality, the challenge assumes alarming proportions. The myriad of emotions that “our People” systematically manifest take on catastrophic proportions, with the potential to cause harm and have dire consequences for themselves and the teams they integrate or lead, and ultimately, for the company (losses in productivity and low morale).

All these high-risk situations in complex environments like companies are exacerbated by high levels of stress due to increased market demands and the international context (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine and the Middle East). This uncertainty generates high levels of stress in “People,” which naturally evolves into states of anxiety and, if prolonged, inevitably leads to Burnout. All these situations find a privileged space and proliferate silently in companies, but we need to identify, diagnose, and, if possible, in a timely manner, to be able to act!

Corporate Solutions for Burnout

To prevent the escalation of pain and suffering that is far beyond our tolerance, we must find solutions that create value for “People” and companies, thereby also increasing workplace well-being. In the fight to recover balance and energy levels, “People” and companies must co-author creative solutions with relatively low costs but considerable return on investment for all. Some examples of measures that mitigate this scourge:

  1. Short breaks during the workday;
  2. Reduction in the number and duration of meetings;
  3. Reorganization of workstations;
  4. Reduction of the workweek by adopting a 4-day workweek;
  5. Hybrid work models;
  6. Outdoor activities;
  7. Investing in employees’ mental health; and
  8. Investing in a Sustainable Well-Being Culture.

Society must understand that “People” have changed, professionals have changed, and the new generations entering the workforce exert significant pressure because the paradigm has shifted! Are they wrong? The reality is that they do not want to get sick from working like their parents (that is, US). It is legitimate and they demand a perfect fit between investment in their careers and their personal lives (work-life balance).

In short, ensuring the promotion of mental and physical health is vital for workplace well-being and business success because it allows “our People” to recover their energy levels. It is increasingly necessary to invest in the various dimensions that make up their lives in a healthy and enjoyable way!

Daniela Lima
Managing Partner da SWAIFOR

Personal Life is More Important than Professional Life

Shall we look at some numbers? They are here to support us. According to the Workmonitor – The Voice of Employees 2024 study by Randstad, a specialist in the labor market, 60% of Portuguese workers would not accept a job that affects their life balance. But that is not all. Half even state that personal life is more important than professional life. These data reaffirm the importance of emotional salary in the 21st-century labor market.

This does not mean that salary is of secondary importance – we still base our lives on the money that lands in our accounts. In fact, 36% of respondents are concerned about losing their jobs and, generally speaking, the cost of living remains high relative to the low-wage policies practiced by companies in Portugal. Nonetheless, today’s leaders need to coordinate their actions based on this shift in priorities.

Leadership Styles that Succeed

From the outset and according to the possibilities and needs of the sector, top management must conceive a corporate culture that values the worker as a three-dimensional person. This primarily involves breaking away from the authoritarianism paradigm. A leadership style that persists in Portugal, as reflected in the QSP – Marketing Management & Research study, shows that 31.4% of leaders opt for management that stimulates the sharing of opinions from everyone, collaboration, and teamwork. A frankly low percentage that is certainly related to the low productivity indices of our business fabric (but let us leave this for other forums…)

Well-Being at Work – From Theory to Action

It is important to underline these statistics because it is difficult to materialize the notion of balance between personal and professional life without companies first instituting participatory and democratic leadership styles, adapted to the new demands of the labor market. When it comes to priorities, we are talking about concrete actions that contribute to well-being at work. Practical examples of requests that companies should meet are:

  1. Understanding each worker as unique, promoting equity;
  2. Offering flexible hours and work locations – some will not negotiate a work contract without the option for telecommuting;
  3. Creating agile communication channels and promoting the sharing of relevant information throughout the entire corporate hierarchy;
  4. Reviewing workloads;
  5. Encouraging breaks during work hours; and
  6. Offering benefits such as performance bonuses, extra days off, and health insurance.

Dear Leader, Are You Ready to Welcome New Workers?

There is still a long way to go toward balancing personal and professional life, but well-being is becoming less and less negotiable. In an era where artificial intelligence has further complicated relationships between people and companies, the window of time for any adaptations is quite narrow. The world moves forward and will continue to advance at a galloping pace, and today’s leaders must be ready to welcome it.

Bernardo Freire
Marketing Manager at HM Consultores