Environmental Sustainability in the Work Place
Northwest University
Ryan MacPhail
Industrial Organizational Psychology
The term “sustainable business practices” generally means giving consideration to the environmental, economic and social impact of a company’s business practices—both internally and externally—when making business decisions. It differs from the term “sustainable workplace practices,” which means creating and maintaining a safe, healthy and functional workplace. Throughout the articles that I have read, they go over a statistical approach from an I-O Psych background to discover the advantages of making your workplace an environmentally sustainable organization.
Workplace practices
To sustain a safe, healthy and functional workplace, an organization must put in place practical and efficient work processes to minimize the impact of employee production on the office environment and employees. Sustainable workplace practices go beyond what is required by law and ensure longevity and overall well-being of the workforce. Practices of this nature include examining employee carbon footprint, offering occupational wellness programs and stress-reducing strategies (e.g., nap rooms, on-site massages and stretch breaks), and providing wellness-related benefits such as on-site gyms. Maintaining a sustainable workplace also means minimizing external environmental impact—for example, by purchasing repurposed and recycled materials, minimizing unnecessary employee travel, and reducing energy and water consumption ("Sustainability at Work-what Can We Do?," 2011).
Employment practices
Examples of sustainable employment practices include work/life balance programs such as flexible scheduling, career development programs, initiatives to maintain a motivated and engaged workforce, and inclusive leadership and strategic training programs. Employers with effective sustainable employment practices are using innovative solutions to help their employees adapt to social and
Ryan MacPhail
Industrial Organizational Psychology
The term “sustainable business practices” generally means giving consideration to the environmental, economic and social impact of a company’s business practices—both internally and externally—when making business decisions. It differs from the term “sustainable workplace practices,” which means creating and maintaining a safe, healthy and functional workplace. Throughout the articles that I have read, they go over a statistical approach from an I-O Psych background to discover the advantages of making your workplace an environmentally sustainable organization.
Workplace practices
To sustain a safe, healthy and functional workplace, an organization must put in place practical and efficient work processes to minimize the impact of employee production on the office environment and employees. Sustainable workplace practices go beyond what is required by law and ensure longevity and overall well-being of the workforce. Practices of this nature include examining employee carbon footprint, offering occupational wellness programs and stress-reducing strategies (e.g., nap rooms, on-site massages and stretch breaks), and providing wellness-related benefits such as on-site gyms. Maintaining a sustainable workplace also means minimizing external environmental impact—for example, by purchasing repurposed and recycled materials, minimizing unnecessary employee travel, and reducing energy and water consumption ("Sustainability at Work-what Can We Do?," 2011).
Employment practices
Examples of sustainable employment practices include work/life balance programs such as flexible scheduling, career development programs, initiatives to maintain a motivated and engaged workforce, and inclusive leadership and strategic training programs. Employers with effective sustainable employment practices are using innovative solutions to help their employees adapt to social and