CWHP-A Reflections: Unit WWC04

A few things stand out for me about implementation, monitoring for effectiveness, and pivoting to meet emerging needs.

First, shared responsibility (aka empowered execution) is essential and needs to be considered and embraced throughout the 5-step model. In the implementation stage, it is where the “rubber hits the road,” and you see the fruits of a thoughtful and thorough stakeholder consultation approach. Listening to stakeholders' lived experiences and expertise for continuous improvement and pivot opportunities remains vital at this stage.

Despite the existence of the National Standard since 2013 and increasing legislative requirements for workplace psychological health and safety since 2018 in Alberta, the organizational maturity level to develop and execute a Workplace Health and Performance (WHP) strategy and plan is low in many (if not most) employers. The need to do so in the COVID era, however, is reaching crisis levels worldwide, and the time for employers to prioritize and act on workplace mental health is now.

The need to build a business case and get executive leadership buy-in (in my opinion) has passed. It is now replaced with mounting evidence and increased focus on how work impacts people’s safety, health, and well-being. For executive leaders, there is a moral and regulatory imperative to act. In the context of implementation, this means ensuring that the WHP strategy and plan are prioritized across the organization and adequately resourced. This must include the appointment and dedication of an executive change leader who engages across the organization at all levels, especially at the executive level, where frank discussion and eradication of “living in the clouds thinking” needs to take place to move from a WHP focus on employee well-being programming to the necessary focus on workplace system and structures.

While every workplace stakeholder has a role to play, the responsibility, accountability, and ownership of executives who direct the organizational entity are critical.