(Managing Psychosocial Hazards in Retail: A Case Study from Horizon Retailers, 2024) this comprise the perception of specialist in the same filed and articles in reputable business new papers. These risks, according to scholars in organizational behavior, must be managed since they affect the health of organizational environments and employees. Research from organizations like Harvard Business Review shows that companies that invest in the mental health of their employees get less turnover and higher engagement from their workforce.
There are interesting suggestions made by professionals; one of them is the use of training programs focused on providing employees with appropriate materials and guidelines to address stress and complete the tasks related to interacting with customers (Peter Brace PhD, 2022). In addition to skills acquisition of the employees, it also creates a sense of support to employees in an organization. Unlike similar expenditure, this one impacts the capacity to deliver better service and enhances the reputation of the organizational entity.
In addition, professionals in the field stress the need for definitive standard operating procedures regarding psychosocial risks. Stressors should be implemented with precautions in place to reduce their effects so that organizations take the necessary measures to ensure that potential stressors are not destructive to its members (Psychosocial Hazards, 2023). It might include mandating that managers and employees undergo compulsory mental health seminars or workshops, providing methods through which workers can report sources of stress at the workplace or find support in handling the stress, and promoting cultures that are supportive of workers’ psychological well-being.
They also indicted longer-term prospects of tackling psychosocial hazards in the retail sector. Companies with positive view towards human resource health are likely to receive the benefits of increase performance, morale among the employees and general business performance (Roussos, 2023). In this regard, provision of favorable work conditions can help companies improve their chances of acquiring and maintaining key employees – a crucial dictating factor in the retail sector.
B4. Evidence from Organizational Data
Kmart’s HRIS contains ample information that can be used in the analysis of psychosocial risks and potential effects on employee health status. It is important to analyze this data as it will help to determine such parameters that allegedly characterize the organization’s performance in terms of the employees’ mental health and satisfaction with their work. Some of the significant measures that are likely to be tracked includes the following; The rate of turnover at the employee level which stands at 25% per year. If the rate of turnover is calculated monthly rather than weekly, a company like Kmart can learn characteristics and possible causes of turnover, so that timely, proper action can be taken(Kim & JUNG, 2021).
Another key indicator is the level of employee turnover, which has a growing trend, with an average of 5 days of work missed by an employee per year. This trend may pose more of a concern when it comes to other undiagnosed stress related complications that could be experienced in employees. It is suggested that quarterly analysis of absenteeism patterns can help to assess the usefulness of applied interventions that concern the improvement of organizational support for the staff.
Also, the score given to employee satisfaction presently stands at 3.5 out of 10 should be measured at least once a year in order to determine the effectiveness of different approaches. Measuring the performance of the employee overtime in regard to their psychosocial hazards will help in establishing the performance of the various strategies that Kmart has put in place(Ceryes et al., 2021).
These metrics are important precursors of employee stress, and can be helpful to management in decision making about psychosocial factors. Paying attention to these parameters, Kmart can gain a significantly deeper insight into the effects caused by organizational factors in terms of employee health and implement necessary actions with the goal to improve their conditions in the workplace.
| Metric |
Current Status |
Proposed Monitoring Frequency |
| Employee Turnover Rate |
High (25% annually) |
Monthly |
| Absenteeism |
Increasing (5 days per employee) |
Quarterly |
| Satisfaction Survey Scores |
Low (3.5/10) |
Annually |
Table 1: Organizational data
Part C: Recommendations
- Implement Training Programs: Develop comprehensive training programs focusing on stress management and effective customer interaction techniques. Training should emphasize coping strategies for handling difficult customers and high workloads. This initiative can empower employees to manage stressors more effectively, leading to improved job satisfaction and retention(Sheu & Kuo, 2020).
- Enhance Employee Support Systems: Establish regular mental health check-ins and wellness programs to support employees. Implementing an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can provide confidential counseling services, helping employees manage personal and work-related stress. Additionally, promote mental health awareness initiatives within the workplace(Oakman et al., 2022).
- Review Staffing Levels: Conduct a thorough analysis of staffing levels during peak periods and adjust accordingly. By ensuring adequate staffing, Kmart can alleviate the pressure on employees, leading to a more manageable workload and reduced stress.
- Monitor and Reduce Operational Disruptions: Implement strategies to minimize operational disruptions, such as proactive equipment maintenance and better inventory management. Reducing unexpected challenges can significantly lower stress levels among employees(Rosemberg et al., 2021).
- Introduce Flexible Work Arrangements: Explore options for flexible work arrangements, such as adjusted shifts or remote work opportunities where feasible. It means that people can easily manage their work and other activities, which may improve conditions within the occupation along with increasing the rate of satisfying employees and their desire to remain in the organization.