Positive psychology at work – part 1

Part 1: happiness in challenging times

Summary:

In the first of a two-part series Karen Coomer explains the concept of positive psychology and why it should be embraced by occupational health.

Occupational health (OH) has long been associated with the physical and mental health of employees in the workplace. As there is no UK legal requirement to provide OH provision or comply with a national holistic policy, employers can decide what services to purchase. It is unsurprising then that the focus on economic productivity influences the model of OH offered. Terms such as ‘enhanced productivity’, ‘bottom line’, and ‘return on investment’ have shaped the way OH is commissioned and delivered.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has demonstrated how this dynamic can quickly change in the event of a shutdown in productivity …

Dr Karen Coomer is an occupational health nurse and a chartered psychologist.

Author: Coomer K

Tags mental health

Occupational Health at Work February/March 2021 (vol. 17/5) pp14-17

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