At present, this concept considers a series of determinants (social and environmental) that impact for or against the quality of life of the population and, therefore, on their state of health. Working conditions are among the most important social determinants of health today. Although it is true that work is a core piece in the life of human beings, there are conditions and a series of risks that need to be detected, evaluated and controlled to have a positive impact on the workforce, otherwise, the negative impact can be devastating for both the employee and the organizations.
The reasons for the deterioration of an employee’s health are diverse and somewhat complex as they are directly related to macroeconomic, political, environmental and social determinants that could increase biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic and psychosocial risks in the workplace, affecting physical, social, financial and mental well-being.
A latent risk that remained apparently hidden, and was widely evidenced during the coronavirus pandemic, was related to general health conditions, the presence of chronic-degenerative diseases, and effects on the mental health of workers, which turned out to be a critical component. in the behavior of COVID-19 as it is related to higher rates of fatality and severity of the disease among the population detected as “vulnerable” due to these pre-existing conditions. Latin America was declared by the WHO as the epicenter of the pandemic in May 2020, generating more than 40% of deaths in the world. This represented, of course, important socio-economic repercussions.
This is precisely where organizations have great influence and co-responsibility by promoting a culture of organizational well-being based on prevention, education, the promotion of healthy lifestyles, the detection of health risks (metabolic risks – arterial hypertension, overweight or obesity, glucose and elevated blood lipids), self-care and coverage of the needs of the working population through flexible benefits in terms of health and well-being.
In a recent study, “People Risk”, the five pillars of people risk that are having the greatest impact on companies throughout Latin America were specified. The vast majority (85%) of organizations say that employee health and safety risks remain the biggest threat to their business, including more potential pandemics, as well as employee burnout and mental health.
According to the study, 76% of companies in Latin America are currently addressing this risk and have clear roles and responsibilities to manage it. Regarding health and well-being, 82% of Latin American companies are managing this risk; however, only 49% have effective systems and communications in place to support a culture of employee safety. Focusing on workforce mental health issues (eg, anxiety, stress, depression, and addiction) is critical at this time. Only 66% of companies are currently addressing this risk.