Why 13 Factors?
What is Psychological - Psychosocial Health & Safety and the 13 FACTORS?
Psychological or Psychosocial Health & Safety is an evidence-based, systems-level method of positively impacting employee mental health, safety and wellbeing by focusing on psychosocial risk and hazard management, mental health supports and prioritizing an inclusive culture of trust, psychological safety and PHS aligned systems, structures and practices.
13 psychosocial risk factors were cited in the Canadian National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (PH&S) first published in 2013 and reconfirmed in 2018 and 2022 as strategic areas that have significant impact on employee and manager mental health and wellbeing. The Standard was the result of extensive and rigourous research by academic, occupational and organizational psychology leaders including the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). The Canadian Standard was also foundational in the development of the global ISO standard, ISO 45003: 2021.
With so much workplace conversation about Psychological Safety, it is important for organizational leaders to understand the differences between planning and action that is part of your Psychological or Psychosocial Health & Safety Strategy, and the elements that form part of the strategy and critical to its success in impacting work conditions and employee and manager mental health and wellbeing. Some of those elements share language and 'words' so it can be confusing. Canada has a Workplace Psychological Health & Safety Standard, a Psychological Health & Safety Risk Management Framework-System similar to OHS is part of a strategy and some strategies pay special attention to the psychosocial risk factor of "Psychological Safety". Psychological Safety is one of the 13 psychosocial risk factors in the Canadian Standard. That factor is the fundamental enabling condition that allows us to be ourselves at work, perform at our best, experience joy, enable positive social connections. It is also linked to trust-building behaviours. In 2013 Google undertook a massive 3-year research study, called Project Aristotle (a follow up on the Oxygen Project) to determine the defining characteristics and most important factors of highest performing teams. The #1 factor was psychological safety.
We named our business 13 FACTORS after these psychosocial risk factors, even while appreciating that there are actually 13 +1 factors.
What we know for sure.
The evolution of workplaces and the impact of changing market conditions can be complex. But the evidence-based changes to meet those new needs and become more adaptable to the change doesn't have to be. We can help.
Especially if you:
1. Know internal and external challenges are increasing and having an impact on manager and employee mental health.
2. Are interested in culture leadership that will substantially improve psychological safety, engagement, productivity, and innovation.
3. Want to integrate psychosocial risk management into your OHS management system.
4. Are deepening focus on work-related stressors, health and wellbeing.
5. Are implementing the Canadian National PH&S Standard or the global standard, ISO 45003.
5. Considering what new workplace skills and capabilities are most needed.
What are the Factors?
The 13 risk factors of PH&S in the workplace:
- Organizational Culture
- Psychological and Social Support
- Clear Leadership & Expectations
- Civility & Respect
- Psychological Demands
- Growth & Development
- Recognition & Reward
- Involvement & Influence
- Workload Management
- Engagement
- Balance
- Psychological Protection
- Protection of Physical Safety
+ 14. Any other chronic stressor that may be identified by workers.
The 14th factor is particularly important to unions as they assess psychological health and safety in the workplace. (Canadian Labour Congress)
What is the Canadian National Standard and ISO 45003?
The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace is a first of its kind in the world. The Standard was developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) with partners and stakeholders focused on workplace and employee mental health and wellbeing. The Canadian Standard helped inform other leading standards, the International Standard, ISO 45003 and new regulations and legislation recently released in Australia. All aligned with the latest science, research and evidence.
These Standards are supported by legislation and regulations in many jurisdictions and present a new way to look at the workplace, safety, ways of working, culture and the impact the workplace has on our lives.
They include guidelines, tools and resources to improve workplace culture and climate, create a more positive and collaborative workplace and prevent psychological harm at work. They each align with Occupational Health and Safety practices and processes for physical safety culture that we have been using for decades. The considerations will be very familiar to you and your team. It expands our concept of health at work to include a priority for our mental health, our psychological health and safety. We will work with you to determine the areas in your organization that present opportunities for improvement, prevention strategies to reduce risk and improve your overall safety culture.
The Link Between Workplace Psych Health & Safety, Mental Health and Sustainability
Is employee health and safety critical to your business? Is quality critical to your business? Is continuous improvement, engagement and learning? Collaboration, innovation and productivity?
Consider a new strategic priority this year that integrates psych health and safety strategy, a risk management system, culture growth and new psych health and safety-based leader and team development to achieve a lasting and sustainable approach to improving mental health, wellbeing and positive change.