The Canadian National Newspaper: Are you working in an unhealthy environment

NC - Working in an environment with a poor workplace culture can be stressful, but it can also be dangerous to your health. A recent study shows that employees can more than double their chance of developing certain diseases. Answer the questions below, courtesy of Dr. Martin Shain, S.J.D., professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, to see if you're working in an environment that's harmful to your health.

1. I am satisfied with the amount of involvement I have in decisions that affect my work.

2. I feel I am rewarded (in terms of praise and recognition) for the level of effort I put out for my job.

3. In the last six months, too much time pressure at work has caused me worry, nervousness or stress.

4. In the last six months, I have experienced worry, nervousness or stress from mental fatigue at work.

For all questions, if you agree with the statement add a point for each question. Add your total points from question one and two and subtract the point total from question three and four to receive your score.

Congratulations. You experience more satisfaction than stress at work. On the whole, you feel you are valued and are being treated fairly at work. Your self-reported health is likely to be excellent, and you have an excellent sense of well-being.

You experience slightly more satisfaction than stress at work. On the whole, you feel you are being treated relatively fairly at work. Your self-reported health is likely to be very good. Your mental health related to work is characterized by quite high commitment to your employer and your job.

The satisfaction you get from your job and the stress you experience at work tend to cancel each other out. Your self-reported health is likely to be neutral, or moderately good. Your mental health related to work may be characterized by complacency or disengagement.

You experience slightly more stress than satisfaction at work. You may feel you are treated unfairly at work. Your self-reported health is likely only fair. Your mental health at work may be characterized by disengagement and demoralization. You are at risk for a variety of health and capacity impairments.

You experience more stress than satisfaction at work. You likely feel you are treated very unfairly at work. Your self-reported health is likely to be poor. Your mental health at work may be characterized by disengagement, demoralization and depression.

"Organizations with distressed work environments experience more disease, conflict, injuries, and mental health issues. Business leaders have an exciting opportunity to save on health and disability costs by building a healthier workplace culture," said Sue Brown, director of Sun Life Financial's HealthyRETURNS, a program designed to help employers incorporate wellness into their workplaces. "In the meantime, individuals who find themselves in a poor work environment can make things better by learning how to control the controllable."

Examples include strengthening cognitive stress management skills such as learning how to say no, how to reframe a negative event, and learning how to communicate more effectively.

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