KUALA LUMPUR: Employers must take psychosocial risks at the workplace seriously, as issues such as excessive workload, bullying, harassment and discrimination can have serious consequences for employees, their families and organisations, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
Lee, a member of the Mental Health Advisory Council, said psychosocial risks are increasingly becoming an important workplace safety issue despite not always being as visible as physical hazards.
“Every employer has a responsibility to identify, assess and manage psychosocial risks as part of their overall workplace safety and health responsibilities,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Lee said a safe workplace should not simply be one free from physical accidents but also one where employees feel psychologically safe, respected and supported.
He urged employers to proactively identify psychosocial hazards, including excessive work demands, unreasonable working hours, workplace bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination, job insecurity, interpersonal conflicts and a lack of support from management.
Lee also stressed the importance of creating a workplace culture where employees felt safe to speak up when facing difficulties.
“Employees should not fear being labelled as weak, troublesome or incapable simply because they seek help.”
He said stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to addressing psychosocial problems at work and employers should actively work towards eliminating it.
“Seeking assistance is not a sign of weakness but an important step towards protecting one’s well-being,” he said.
Lee urged employers, particularly senior management, to take ownership of the issue by establishing confidential channels for employees to raise concerns and providing access to counselling and support services.
He also called for supervisors and managers to be trained to recognise early warning signs and for complaints involving bullying, harassment and other psychosocial hazards to be taken seriously.
While employees also have a role to play by looking out for colleagues and speaking up when they see someone struggling, Lee said the primary responsibility for creating a psychologically safe working environment rests with employers.
“We must move away from the mindset that workplace mental well-being is solely an individual’s problem. It is a shared workplace responsibility, and employers must be part of the solution.”
